UC-NBLF 


SB    273    SSI 


THE  ROBERT   E.  COWAN  COLLECTION 

PRESENTED    TO    THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

HY 

C.  P.  HUNTINGTON 

cJUNE..  1897. 

Accession  Noy  0  J  06       Class  No. 


CALIFORNIA 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL, 


LOUIS     PREVOST, 


•iVlT.'i  TWKI.VK    YEABS     gXl*  ERIK  NOB    IN    KAISIXG  THE  MUUJKURif , 
AND  SIX    VKAUS    IN    K.YJSIXU  THE   SILKWORM. 


SAN    FRANCISCO: 

H.  H.  BANCROFT  AND  COMPANY. 

1  8  ("5  7  . 


. 


Diagrams  of  the  forms  in  which  the  branches  should  be  laid  for  feeding 
the  silkworm. 


CALIFORNIA 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL, 


LOUIS     PREVOST, 

PIONEER  SILK  CCLTURIST  OF  THE  PACIFIC  COAST. 


WITH  TWELVE  YEAES1  EXPERIENCE  IN  RAISING  THE  MULBERRY, 
AND  SIX  YEARS  IN  RAISING  THE  SILKWORM. 


SAN   FEANCISCO: 

H.  H.  BANCROFT  AND  COMPANY. 


TOWNE  AND  BACON,  PRINTERS. 

1867. 


I 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  One  Thousand 
Eight  Hundred  and  Sixty-Six, 

BY    LOUIS   PREVOST, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  California. 


INDEX. 


CHAPTER.  PAGE. 

Preface ,  7 

Introduction,  Letters,  etc 11 

1.  Our  Climate,  its  superiority,  and  its  advantages 143 

2.  Silk  in  California 150 

3.  History  of  Silk,  its  antiquity  and  commerce 155 

4.  History  of  the  Silkworm 161 

5.  The  Mulberry  (Morus) 167 

Morus  Multicaulis,  or  Chinese 169 

do.     Alba,  or  White 171 

do.      Moretti 172 

6.  The  Soil 174 

Preparation  of  the  Soil 176 

7.  Mulberry  Culture  and  Propagation 178 

Mode  for  Cuttings  in  California 181 

8.  Plantation  of  the  Mulberry  for  our  California  Culture. .  .184 

9.  Mulberry  Trees  everywhere 188 

10.     Cocoonery,  or  Maguanerie 192 

Importance  of  a  Cocoonery 193 

A  good  Cocoonery  is  needed  on  every  farm 194 

1* 


VI  INDEX. 

CHAPTER.  PAGB. 

Plan  of  a  California  Cocoonery 195 

11.  Silkworms,  the  different  varieties.    198 

12.  Modes  of  Raising  Silk  in  different  countries .- .  202 

13.  Amount  of  Food 210 

14:     Observations  on  feeding  and  quality  of  food 213 

15.  Treatment  of  the  Silkworms  according  to  our  climate..  .  .217 

The  feeding  with  branches 218 

Hatching,  different  ages,  care,  etc 220 

Formation  of  the  Cocoons 225 

Gathering  of  the  Cocoons 226 

Select  your  Cocoons  for  Eggs 228 

How  to  keep  the  Eggs 231 

1 6.  Talk  with  farmers  and  planters 231 

Product  per  acre 236 

Benevolent  Societies,  Orphans,  etc 237 

Going  into  that  business  with  a  small  capital 240 

Persons  who  have  been  successful  already 242 

Our  Pioneer  Silk  manufacture.  .  .  .243 


OF  THE 


I  "UNIVERSITY 


PREFACE. 


Having  been  frequently  solicited,  by  the  friends  of  the  silk  cause,  to 
publish  the  results  of  my  experience  and  observation  on  silk-growing 
in  this  State,  I  have  concluded  to  do  so  ;  that  all  may  be  benefited 
by  it,  as  most  of  the  works  already  published  on  the  subject  are  mere 
compilations  from  foreign  authors,  made  up  of  details  not  at  all 
applicable  to  what  I  shall  term  our  California  Silk  Culture,  for  such 
must  be  the  system  by  which  we  shall  succeed  in  raising  the  raw 
silk,  Avhich  is  bound  to  be  the  greatest  staple  of  our  State,  and  by 
which  we  shall  induce  our  farmers  to  turn  their  attention  to  its 
extensive  cultivation,  as  they  need  pay  no  further  attention  to  the 
frequent  croakings  of  short-sighted  persons  about  the  high  price  of 
labor.  It  is  too  late  now  for  such  a  ridiculous  argument,  because  I 
have  already  demonstrated,  but  will  more  fully  prove  it  again  in  this 
Manual,  by  facts  only,  that  our  advantages  are  so  numerous  and 
everything  is  so  much  in  our  favor  here,  that  we  certainly  can  raise 
the  silk  in  California  for  half  the  cost  of  many  other  silk  countries. 
We  have  the  best  soil  and  the  best  climate  to  raise  silk,  and  we  will 
soon  have  a  large  population  to  produce  it,  because  I  know,  that  rich 
culture,  which  is  superior  to  the  mines,  as  it  is  surer,  will  bring  a  large 
emigration  here  from  the  States,  and  all  parts  of  the  world.  I  per- 
sonally know,  through  my  correspondence,  of  many  who  are  coming 
already  for  that  culture  ;  and  the  publication  of  our  California  Manual 
will  determine  many  more,  as  they  will  find  in  it  all  the  information 
that  they  may  desire  on  that  important  subject. 

We  can  raise  here  silk  of  the  very  best  quality,  and  I  think  that  I 


Vlll  PREFACE. 

can  venture  to  say  here,  that  China  and  Bengal  will  before  long  feel 
the  effects  of  my  efforts,  which  will  result  in  the  production  of  silk 
to  compete  with  them.  They  may  produce  a  low  priced  article,  if 
they  choose,  but  the  quality  of  silk,  in  all  cases,  decides  the  question 
of  preference. 

Fine  phrases,  generally,  do  not  tell  anything,  and  I  do  not  like 
them ;  some  may  say,  because  I  cannot  make  them.  It  may  be  so ;  but 
as  my  object  is  to  be  useful,  I  think  I  need  offer  no  apology  for  the 
plain  and  unadorned  pages  which  I  offer,  as  I  put  here  everything 
which  I  think  necessary  to  be  known,,  to  show  California  as  the  best 
silk-producing  country. 

Thousands  are  inquiring:  What  work  on  the  subject  is  best; 
where  shall  we  look  for  information  ?  As  I  have  said  before,  all  the 
published  works  are  translations  from  foreign  authors,  or  compila- 
tions, that  are  not,  and  cannot,  in  my  opinion,  and  in  that  of  all  the 
reasoning  class,  be  any  way  adapted  to  our  fine  silk  growing  State  ; 
we  have  to  experiment  and  find  out  what  is  the  best  way  to  raise 
silk,  according  to  the  climate  where  we  are.  This  I  have  done,  and 
I  am  offering  to-day  to  our  farmers  and  planters  generally,  the 
results  of  my  experience  on  the  subject.  The  reason  why  I  recom- 
mend my  California  Silk  Culture  is,  because  it  is  the  system 
particularly  adapted  to  our  own  highly  favored  climate,  to  our  more 
serene  atmosphere,  and  perpetual  sunshine  during  summer,  and  to 
the  peculiar  requirements  of  our  people.  The  genial  climate  for  silk 
is  ours,  and  also  the  best  soil  for  the  mulberry. 

It  is  immense,  the  millions  that  are  sent  out  annually  for  the 
importation  of  that  article  only.  These  millions  could  be  retained 
among  us,  as  California  alone  can  produce  silk,  not  only  enough  for 
our  general  consumption, 'but  also  for  exportation.  With  that  staple 
only,  we  would  soon  be  able  to  pay  our  national  debt,  and  our  own ; 
we  only  need  to  have  a  Congress  that  understands  the  general 
interests  of  the  nation,  by  keeping  the  present  high  tariff  on  the 
article  for  several  years  more. 

The  demand  for  silk,  which  is  now  so  great,  is  continually  increas- 
ing. Since  a  short  period  of  years  the  amount  of  silk  consumed  is 
more  than  doubled,  and  is  rising  in  price  every  year.  I  see  that,  in 
1840,  the  price  of  raw  silks  was/ow  dollars  per  pound,  and  at  the 
present  day,  that  same  raw  silk  is  worth  seven  dollars  per  pound, 


PREFACE.  ix 

and  more  for  the  best  quality.  It  is  bound  to  keep  increasing,  as 
it  is  becoming  more  and  more  in  fashion ;  and  after  all,  no  matter 
how  high  it  sells,  if  it  is  of  good  quality,  silk  is  the  cheapest  of  all  the 
dresses^  everything  considered. 

Our  advantages  are  many  in  California,  and,  indeed,  very  great. 
To  be  duly  appreciated,  they  must  be  estimated  singly  and  individu- 
ally ;  but  how  much  greater  and  more  striking  will  they  then  appear, 
if  considered  collectively.  The  decisive  impulse  is  already  given, 
and  its  mighty  influences  extending  throughout  our  State ;  our  people 
are  awake  ;  hope  dawns  auspicious  ;  the  day  and  its  brightness  will  be 
ours,  endued  as  are  our  people  with  fortitude,  with  energy,  and 
intellectual  resources  unsurpassed.  Is  there  one  American  who  can 
doubt  it  ? 

I  have  no  desire  for  pecuniary  benefit  to  myself,  to  grow  out  of 
any  knowledge  of  the  silk  culture,  which  it  may  be  in  my  power  to 
impart  to  the  public.  Anything  that  may  be  a  benefit  to  that  noble 
cause  I  will  publish,  as  my  earnest  desire  is  to  be  useful,  by  aiding 
the  introduction  of  a  culture,  which  will  make  our  people  rich.  In 
opening  for  them  a  field  (and  also  to  our  country)  of  unceasing 
wealth,  I  shall  feel  amply  compensated  for  the  years  of  practical 
experience  which  I  have  given  to  silk  culture,  from  the  pleasure  I 
shall  receive  in  the  knowledge  that  my  humble  efforts  were  to  some 
extent  the  means  of  introducing  and  establishing  in  our  State  an 
industry  which  will  save  annually  many  millions  of  dollars  to. our 
people,  and  make  us  the  largest  silk-producing  country  in  the  world. 


INTRODUCTION. 


Last  spring,  when  I  agreed  to  write  this  Manual,  it  was  not  my  in- 
tention, as  an  introduction  to  it,  to  re-publish  all  the  letters  that  I  had 
already  written  for  the  different  papers  on  that  important  and  rich 
culture,  and  for  some  time  I  thought  it  would  not  be  necessary ;  but 
lately,  in  speaking  with  some  friends,  who  are  also  friends  of  the  silk 
cause,  they  requested  me  to  do  it,  and  I  have  concluded  to  do  so..  I 
must  confess  here,  that  it  was  not  very  hard  to  determine  me,  as  1 
really  feel  happy  and  proud  to  lay  them  before  my  readers ;  because,, 
in  perusing  them,  they  will  find  by  the  results  to-day  that  every  word 
of  what  I  have  said  about  that  rich  industry  in  California,  even  from 
the  time  I  began,  is  true.  This  will  prove  to  them  that  my  principles 
are,  not  to  say  or  write  anything  except  what  I  am  convinced  of. 

I  had  to  search  for  the  different  papers  to  cut  out  my  letters  from, 
and,  being  in  a  hurry,  I  may  have  omitted  some,  but  I  have  most  of 
them. 

There  are  also  a  great  number  of  very  good  articles  on  that  sub- 
ject in  all  the  principal  papers  of  the  State.  I  will  try  to  collect  as 
many  as  possible,  and  re-publish  them  also  ;  but,  as  it  is  late  in  the 
season,  I  will  not  have  time  for  this  first  edition :  they  will  be  com- 
piled for  the  second. 

By  these  letters,  you  will  observe  that  my  opinion  on  Silk  in  Cali- 
fornia has  been  always  the  same.  I  have  said  in  early  days,  and  re- 
peated it  up  to  the  present  time,  that  we  are  in  flie  best  silk  country  in 
the  world,  I  still  maintain  the  assertion.  I  have  stated  my  reasons  in 
my  letters,  and  these  reasons  were  and  are  the  same  to-day :  because 


Xll  INTRODUCTION. 

we  have  no  rain  at  the  time  of  feeding,  no  storms,  no  shocks  of  elec- 
tricity ;  nothing  to  disturb  the  worms  or  create  any  disease.  On  the 
contrary,  we  have  everything  to  prevent  it ;  as  you  all  know,  through- 
out the  summer  we  have  a  blue  sky,  with  any  amount  of  sunshine, 
from  morning  till  night ;  it  is  just  there  where  our  force  and  superior- 
ity is  ;  because  our  mulberry  trees,  growing  constantly  under  the  in- 
fluence of  the  sun's  rays,  produce  healthy  leaves,  and  consequently, 
healthy  food,  making  healthy  worms.  But  the  leaves  must  be  given 
fresh  to  the  worms ;  otherwise,  if  they  are  allowed  to  remain  in  heaps, 
and  get  fermented  or  heated,  the  mephitic  air  that  they  contain  in 
that  state  would  poison  the  worms.  Therefore,  it  is  very  easy  to  un- 
derstand that  our  superiority  is  on  account  of  our  constant  sunshine  ; 
and  as  in  other  countries,  their  trees  are  growing  nearly  without  it,  in 
a  damp  and  wet  atmosphere,  this  cause  creates  the  disease  there. 


THE 


SILE  GROWER'S  MANUAL. 


[From  the  California  Farmer,  Nov.  26,  1856.] 

EXTRACT  FROM  THE  KEPORT   OF  THE  VISITING  COMMITTEE,  STATE 
AGRICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

The  Committee  first  visited  the  garden  and  nursery 
of  L.  Prevost,  which  is  very  favorably  situated  near  San 
Jose,  on  the  river  Guadaloupe,  and  has  quite  a  large  num- 
ber of  native  oaks  and  other  forest  trees  scattered  over  its 
grounds,  giving  it  a  very  picturesque  appearance.  Mr. 
Prevost  has  nearly  seventy  acres  inclosed — a  great  part 
of  which  is  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  The  soil  is 
admirably  fitted  for  the  purposes  of  a  nursery  and  gar- 
den. Mr.  P.  has  two  artesian  wells,  which  enables  him 
to  irrigate  his  grounds,  and  every  part  of  his  extensive 
garden  shows  care,,  industry  and  skill  in  its  management. 
The  nursery  contains  one  of  the  most  extensive  assort- 
ments of  fruit  trees,  flowering  plants  and  ornamental 
shrubbery  that  can  be  found  in  the  State.  He  has  in 
his  nursery  nearly  14,000  pear  trees,  of  ninety-two 
different  varieties ;  over  8,000  apple  trees,  of  over  one 
hundred  varieties,  and  nearly  25,000  peaches,  apri- 


14  THE   CALIFORNIA 

cots,  quinces,  plums  and  cherries,  of  the  choicest 
kinds.  Over  25,000  mulberry  trees  are  growing  very 
finely.  The  Committee  cannot  pass  the  garden  of  Mr. 
Prevost  without  a  particular  notice  of  his  efforts  to  in- 
troduce into  our  State  the  cultivation  of  the  mulberry, 
and  we  may  safely  say  he  is  the  pioneer  in  this  new 
work  of  silk-raising.  The  Committee  most  warmly 
commend  this  enterprise,  and  in  noticing  his  fine  planta- 
tion of  over  25,000  mulberry  trees,  they  feel  that  at 
least  a  just  and  appreciating  notice  of  his  laudable  ex- 
ertions is  due  to  him  at  the  hands  of  the  Visiting  Com- 
mittee. Mr.  Prevost  assured  us  that  no  country  in  the 
world  was  more  favorably  adapted  to  the  raising  of  the 
silkworm  than  California,  from  the  fact  of  the  absence 
of  electricity,  which  is  peculiarly  injurious  to  the  worm ; 
and  another  favorable  feature  is  the  dryness  of  our 
atmosphere.  From  all  the  facts  gathered  thus  far,  wo 
may  look  to  a  new  era  by  the  introduction  of  the  mul- 
berry culture,  as  the  certain  forerunner  of  silk  culture. 
His  ornamental  trees  and  shrubbery,  such  as  catal- 
pas,  locusts,  privets,  lilacs,  honeysuckles,  English 
walnuts,  &c.,  are  all  in  a  most  thrifty  condition.  The 
collection  of  roses  amounts  to  over  17,000,  and  contain 
over  eighty  varieties.  Mr.  P.  has  a  small  flower  gar- 
den inclosed  with  a  beautiful  willow  hedge,  and  laid 
out  with  great  taste  and  beauty.  But  few  have  achieved 
or  deserved  success  in  their  efforts  to  promote  the  cause 
of  Horticulture  more  than  Mr.  Prevost. 


OF   TBK 

IVERSITY 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  15 

[From  the  California  Farmer,  December  25, 1857.  J 

Mons.  Prevost  has  a  large  plantation  of  the  mulberry, 
of  different  kinds,  for  feeding  silk  worms.  There  is  no 
tree  that  grows  so  rapid,  and  the  large  rich  leaves  make 
the  limbs  hang  pendant  like  the  weeping  willow.  It  is 
certainly  important  that  the  mulberry  should  be  brought 
into  extensive  cultivation,  both  for  its  merits  as  food  of 
the  silkworm,  for  fruit,  and  as  an  ornamental  tree  ;  for 
each  the  tree  is  valuable. 

Neatness,  order,  and  good  taste  are  manifest  in  these 
gardens.  Mons.  P.  has  made  a  fine  entrance  to  his 
grounds  over  the  river,  by  a  new  bridge,  and  it  will  pay 
the  purchaser  of  a  quantity  to  visit  this  garden — it 
will  well  repay  them  ;  and  Mons.  P.  is  truly  worthy  of 
patronage,  as  one  skilled  and  reliable  in  his  business. 


[From  the  California  Farmer,  Aug.  17,  I860.] 
THE  TRIUMPH  OF  THE   SILKWORM  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

Nearly  seven  years  since  we  announced  in  this  jour- 
nal that  this  climate  was  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  grow- 
ing of  the  mulberry  and  the  successful  raising  of  silk- 
worms, and  the  manufacture  of  silk,  and  asserted  that 
in  coming  years  the  women  of  California  would  wear 
garments  made  of  California  Silk.  Each  year  since 
that  time  we  have  called  public  attention  to  this  very 
^portant  subject,  and  we  have  urged  upon  our  Legis- 


16  THE   CALIFORNIA 

lature  the  duty  they  owed  the  State,  to  consider  the 
importance  of  offering  a  bounty,  independent  of  the 
trifles  that  we  had  induced  the  Agricultural  Society  to 
award  ;  and  within  the  past  year  we  received  from  Mr. 
Hentsch  and  Mr.  McNulty  parcels  of  silkworms'  eggs, 
which  we  offered  to  those  who  desired  to  try  the  experi- 
ment, but  for  want  of  due  attention  on  the  part  of 
those  who  tried,  the  successful  result  has  not  been  at- 
tained until  now ;  and  to  L.  Prevost,  Esq.,  of  San 
Jose,  will  be  awarded  the  honor  of  being  the  first  to 
show  the  Chinese  silkworms  in  successful  operation. 

We  are  glad  to  present  the  following  letter  from  Mr. 
Prevost,  which  we  regret  was  not  received  till  too  late 
for  our  last  issue  ;  but  now  we  lay  it  before  our  readers, 
and  hope  this  new  field  of  labor  for  thousands  of  our 
people  will  be  improved,  and  especially  for  the  fair  sex, 
as  this  is  an  easy  employment,  and  will  certainly  prove 
in  coming  years  a  profitable  one. 


SAN  JOSE,  August  7,  1860. 

EDITOE  FARMER  :  For  want  of  time,  I  am  compelled 
to  write  to  you  a  few  lines  in  great  haste,  to  let  you 
know  that  we  have  now  the  California  silk.  My  silk- 
worms began  to  work  last  Sunday,  and  now  a  large 
number  of  fine  cocoons  can  be  seen  ;  as  I  have  a  great 
number  and  of  different  ages,  there  will  be  some  at 
work  every  day  for  several  weeks  ;  then  those  interested 
in  that  fine  culture  can  come  and  see  them,  and  ascer- 
tain for  themselves  how  easy  they  are  to  raise  in  this 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  17 

country.  Mr.  Hentsch,  Mr.  Muller,  myself,  and  others 
acquainted  with  the  silk  culture,  always  thought  that 
the  California  climate  was  very  favorable  to  such  cul- 
ture, but  this  surpasses  all  our  expectations.  There 
s  no  disease  among  them ;  I  was  afraid  for  the  last 
period,  but  the  last  has  been  like  the  others.  Now 
there  will  be  a  fine  work  for  our  ladies  who  should  be 
very  proud  to  raise  their  own  silk.  There  is  no  more 
doubt  about  it ;  we  are  in  the  very  best  silk-growing 
country  in  the  world.  Yours  truly, 

L.  PREVOST. 


[From  the  California  Farmer,  Sep.  14,  I860.] 
SILK  AND  SILKWORMS. 

The  triumph  of  the  silkworm  in  California  is  now 
complete.  By  the  very  handsome  exhibition  of  cocoons, 
floss  silk,  and  reeled  silk  floss,  together  with  the 
silkworms  at  work,  as  shown  by  L.  Prevost,  Esq.,  from 
San  Jose,  at  the  Mechanics'  Fair,  we  think  we  can  con- 
fidently say,  the  triumph  is  complete. 

To  Henry  Hentsch,  Esq.,  who  imported  the  silk- 
worm eggs,  and  to  Monsieur  Prevost,  who  has  with  .in- 
defatigable zeal  raised  the  mulberry  tree,  warmed  into 
life  the  eggs,  and  set  the  worm  to  work  upon  the  leaves, 
and  finally  carried  on  the  work  until  the  reeled  silk  is 
before  our  eyes — to  these  gentlemen  great  praise  and 
honor  are  due,  and  it  is  not  too  much  to  ask  of  our 


18  THE   CALIFORNIA 

Legislature  that  a  special  notice  and  bounty  should  be 
given  for  the  zeal,  labor,  and  care  of  Monsieur  Prevost, 
in  bringing  to  perfection  the  first  silkworms  in  Califor- 
nia ;  and  we  hope  that  the  Legislature  will  cause  a 
special  Gold  Medal  to  be  given  to  Mr.  P.  Of  course 
our  Agricultural  Societies  can  do  no  less  than  notice  and 
reward  him  in  the  most  honorable  manner. 

"  Tall  oaks  from  little  acorns  grow ;  " 

So  from  these  WORKING  "  worms  "  we  know 

Labor  for  thousands  soon  will  show ; 

And  richest  silks  of  brightest  dyes, 

Fresh  from  the  looms,  shall  feast  the  eyes. 

We'll  "  learn  to  labor  and  to  wait  " 

For  such  grand  scenes  in  this  great  State. 

How  few  persons  of  the  thousands  that  visit  the  Pa- 
vilion but  will  pass  these  seemingly  insignificant  worms, 
without  dreaming  that  here  is  the  beginning  of  an  en- 
terprise that  shall  count  in  millions  annually  in  coming 
years  in  this  State ! 


FFrom  the  California  Farmer,  Sep.  28,  I860.] 
SILK  CULTURE. 

We  are  pleased  to  lay  before  our  readers  the  follow- 
ing letter  from  L.  Prevost,  Esq.,  the  successful  silk- 
grower  of  California.  We  here  present  facts  from  one 
fully  qualified  to  speak.  Let  all  now  give  heed,  and 
another  year  let  a  thousand  cocooneries  be  started, 
and  ere  long  we  will  show  California-made  silk.  We 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  19 

now  prophesy,  that  at  the  next  Fair  of  1861,  sewing- 
silk  of  California-make  will  be  shown. 

SAN  JOSE,  Sept.  21,  1860. 

EDITOR  FARMER  :  You  requested  me  to  send  you  a 
few  lines  on  the  silk  culture  ;  but  it  has  been  entirely 
impossible  for  me  to  do  so  sooner,  and  now  I  am  obliged 
to  do  it  in  a  hurry. 

I  think  that  the  principal  object  is  to  show  that  we 
produce  silk  in  California  to  more  advantage  than  any 
other  country,  notwithstanding  the  usual  cry  here,  the 
price  of  labor  ! 

We  have  so  many  things  in  California  in  favor  of  that 
culture,  that,  in  my  opinion,  they  far  surpass  the  dif- 
ference in  the  price  of  labor.  The  principal  are  as 
follows. 

1st.  The  climate,  which  is  so  favorable  that  no  dis- 
ease can  be  observed ;  while  in  Europe,  where  the  silk 
is  cultivated,  it  is  calculated  the  very  best  year  when 
the  losses  are  only  thirty  per  cent. ;  but  these  losses 
vary  from  thirty  to  eighty  per  cent.,  according  to  the 
quantity  of  rain  that  falls,  and  the  storms,  with  thunder 
and  lightning,  during  the  time  of  feeding.  Here  we 
have  none  of  such  things,  and  consequently  no  reason 
to  lose  a  single  worm,  except  by  accident.  But  sup- 
pose these  accidental  losses  from  four  to  ten  per  cent., 
this  is  a  very  great  difference  Avith  Europe,  and  this 
is  to  be  considered. 

2d.  The  rent  for  land  in  Europe  is  very  high ;  in 
France,  I  know,  they  pay  for  rent  only,  double  the  price 


20  THE   CALIFORNIA 

we  have  to  pay  here  to  buy  it.  Who  can  prove  that 
they  have  not  to  take  the  price  of  these  high  rents  from 
their  profits.  That  item  only  is  enough  in  itself  to 
compensate  the  difference  in  the  price  of  labor. 

3d.  The  mulberry  trees  thrive  so  well  here,  that 
their  luxuriance  of  growth  leaves  very  far  behind  them 
the  mulberry  trees  in  Europe  ;  and  they  give  such  fine 
leaves,  that  there  is  less  work  in  feeding  the  worms. 

4th.  The  feeding  and  care,  of  the  worms  in  the  silk- 
growing  countries  is  generally  done  in  Europe,  by  wo- 
men and  children.  Why  should  we  not  do  it  here  also  ? 
We  are  not  obliged  for  that  kind  of  work  to  employ  men 
at  twenty-five  or  thirty  dollars  a  month,  when  it  can  be 
done  with  half  of  the  expense  and  less.  The  Chinese, 
who  are  used  to  that  work,  could  be  employed,  if  we 
have  nothing  better. 

5th.  As  everything,  climate,  etc.,  are  so  favorable,  I 
do  not  see  the  necessity  of  erecting  any  of  those  costly 
buildings,  as  they  have  in  Europe,  for  the  worms. 
Here,  any  common  adobe  building,  where  you  can  regu- 
late the  heat,  is  sufficient. 

6th.  As  the  mulberry  grows  wild  in  this  country,  it 
it  shows  that  this  is  the  spot  designated  by  the  Great 
Master  for  the  silk  culture. 

Everything  being  so  favorable,  I  am  under  the  im- 
pression that  the  California  Silk  must  be  of  superior 
quality,  and  so  fine  that  it  will  command  a  price  in  the 
market  over  any  other  silk,  particularly  if-  we  cul- 
tivate only  the  best  varieties  of  mulberry-trees,  well 
known  to  produce  the  best  silk ;  and  that  our  cocoon 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  21 

will  also  produce  more  silk.  It  requires,  generally, 
some  three  hundred  cocoons  to  a  pound ;  but  I  should 
not  be  surprised  to  find  that  we  will  need  here  no  more 
than  about  two  hundred  and  fifty. 

Any  person  that  will  only  take  into  consideration  the 
'above  items  must  be  convinced  that  we  can  not  only 
furnish  the  silk  here  as  cheap  as  in  Europe,  but  cheaper. 
Truly  yours,  L.  PREVOST. 


[From  the  California  Farmer,  Oct.  26,  I860.] 
SILKWORMS. 

One  of  the  finest  and  most  important  exhibitions, 
made  at  San  Jose,  was  the  temple  for  the  silkworms, 
their  cocoons,  and  the  silk.  Mons.  Prevost  deserves 
very  great  credit  for  his  zeal  and  energy  in  carrying  on 
this  great  work.  A  very  neat  arching  temple  of  ever- 
greens and  flowers  was  made,  and  in  these  arches  were 
festoons  of  white  and  yellow  cocoons,  forming  a  gay 
appearance.  In  the  temple  stood  three  pyramids  of  the 
cocoons,  as  they  were  made  in  the  group  on  branches 
of  the  shrub  on  which  they  were  built.  In  front  of  the 
temple  were  the  reels  of  floss,  in  their  shining  threads. 
The  whole  thing  is  now  in  its  infancy,  but  in  coming 
years  will  become  a  type  of  various  manufactories  of 
the  rich  silks  and  satins  that  our  women  of  the  Golden 
State  will  wear.  To  Mons.  Prevost  we  shall  ever  ac- 


22  THE   CALIFORNIA 

cord  praise  for  his  energy  and  desire  to  promote  so 
good  a  work. 


[From  the  California  Fanner,  Nov.  2,  I860.] 
THE    SILKWORM. 

Success  !  success  !  to  our  friend,  L.  Prevost,  Esq., 
of  San  Jose.  Before  us  we  have  one  of  those  fine 
stands  or  clusters  of  the  "  silkworm  cocoons,"  which 
were  shown  at  the  late  Fairs,  and  which  Mons.  P.  has 
kindly  presented  to  us,  that  we  may  show  at  our  office 
the  proof  of  the  success  of  the  silkworm. 

We  hope  that  the  citizens  of  California  will  look  to 
this  subject ;  millions  of  wealth  are  in  store  for  us,  and 
an  opening  for  useful  and  profitable  labor  for  women  and 
children.  As  the  worms  can  be  well  attended  and  fed, 
and  the  gathering  of  cocoons  and  silk-reeling  all  done 
by  women  and  children,  let  a  thousand  acres  of  the  mul- 
berry be  planted  this  year  as  preparatory  to  this  great 
interest. 

As  we  always  desire  to  give  due  credit  to  all  origina- 
tors of  useful  inventions,  arid  to  those  who  introduce 
articles  of  value  into  our  State,  we  accord  to  Henry 
Hentsch,  Esq.,  banker,  the  credit  of  importing  the  eggs 
from  various  sources,  and  Mons.  L.  Prevost  the  credit  of 
maturing  them,  and  thus  proving  the  success  of  the 
enterprise. 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  2H 

[From  the  California  Farmer,  Nov.  30,  I860.] 

SILKWORMS  AND   MULBERRY  TREES. 

We  are  again  favored  with  a  very  interesting  letter 
from  that  zealous  friend  (Mons.  Prevost  of  San  Jose) 
of  those  important  enterprises,  the  raising  of  silkworms, 
the  manufacture  of  silk,  and  the  growing  of  mulberry 
trees ;  although  intimately  linked  together,  they  are 
separate  enterprises,  and  should  each  of  them  be  duly 
considered  by  our  citizens  as  worthy  the  earnest  atten- 
tion of  all  who  are  so  situated  as  to  give  the  matter  seri- 
ous thought.  That  the  breeding  of  silkworms  and  the 
manufacture  of  silk  and  silk  goods  will  become  an  im- 
portant branch  of  industry  in  our  State  in  coming  years, 
we  have  not  the  least  doubt.  We  believe  the  amount 
will  be  told  in  millions  of  dollars  annually  ;  and  it  be- 
hooves those  who  have  land  suitable  to  the  culture  of 
the  mulberry  to  think  of  it  in  season.  As  is  justly  said 
by  Mr.  Prevost,  the  Moms  Multicaulis  will  do  for  the 
worms  in  their  early  stages  of  growth ;  then  other  vari- 
eties— Morus  Moretti,  Morus  Alba,  and  Morus  Niyra. 

The  coming  season  there  will  be  considerable  interest 
felt  in  this  enterprise,  and  a  more  extended  atten- 
tion paid  to  it.  We  shall  give  space  in  our  columns  for 
the  information  needed  for  it,  and  shall  record  its  pro- 
gress. We  feel  that  our  State  is  largely  indebted  to 
Mons.  Prevost,  and  to  H.  Hentsch,  Esq.,  and  all  others 
who  have  been  successful  in  thus  laying  the  foundation 
for  this  truly  great  work.  We  would  also  accord  to 
Mons.  Prevost  due  praise  for  his  zeal  in  past  years,  and 


24  THE   CALIFORNIA 

his  efforts  and  free  offering  of  time  and  money  to  pre- 
pare the  way  for  the  manufacture  of  wine,  and  also  of 
sugar,  from  the  sugar-beet,  to  which  he  refers  in  his  let- 
ters, and  which  we  know  as  true,  as  we  remember  well 
his  untiring  efforts  then  in  behalf  of  both  enterprises. 
It  is  such  labors  and  such  men  that  our  Legislature 
should  encourage  by  a  suitable  token ;  and  we  hope  the 
time  is  not  far  distant  when  such  labors  will  be  duly 
rewarded. 


SAN  JOSE,  November  22,  1860. 

EDITOR  FARMER — Dear  Sir  :  I  have  always  observed 
in  your  paper  the  great  interest  you  take  in  our  home 
industry •,  or  in  other  words,  the  prosperity  of  our  young 
State,  by  advocating  every  new  production  that  would 
save  us  from  importing.  We  concur  in  the  same  ideas 
on  that  point.  My  thoughts  and  efforts  always  have 
been  towards  that  great  cause.  Besides  other  things,  I 
have  from  the  beginning  advocated  the  manufacture  of 
wine.  I  also  spent  time  and  money  to  help  M.  Deles- 
sert  establish  the  sugar-beet  manufacture,  that  we  are 
bound  to  have  also  in  California. 

For  the  past  six  or  seven  years,  in  observing  the  na- 
ture of  our  fine  climate,  and  seeing  that  the  enemies  of 
silkworms  were  not  here,  I  always  said  that  we  were  in 
the  best  silk  country  in  the  world  ;  and  consulting  with 
Mr.  H.  Hentsch,  who  was  exactly  of  the  same  opinion, 
we  then  imported  the  seeds  of  the  best  varieties  of  mul- 
berry for  the  feeding  of  the  worms.  I  have  sown  them 


25 

and  raised  the  mulberry.  Afterwards,  Mr.  H.  Hentsch 
imported  the  silkworms'  eggs ;  but  they  are  of  such 
delicate  nature  that  when  they  arrived  here  they  were 
dead ;  and  they  met  the  same  fate  the  following  year. 
But  the  third  time,  last  year,  he  received  some  from 
France  in  better  order,  and  I  succeeded  in  hatching 
them,  and  the  result  is  now  known  all  over  California. 
I  sent  samples  of  fine  silk  cocoons  to  nearly  every  Fair 
of  our  State. 

Every  person  acquainted  with  the  silk  culture,  with 
whom  I  conversed  on  the  subject,  all  agreed  that  it  is 
the  very  best  country  to  raise  silk ;  among  them  was 
one  of  my  good  friends  here,  Mr.  T.  J.  Muller,  who 
has  been  engaged  in  the  silk-culture  in  Switzerland  for 
fifteen  years.  He  had  so  much  confidence  in  the  silk- 
culture  in  California,  that  he  offered  himself  to  help  me 
in  the  first  trial.  This  he  did  ;  and  great  praise  is  also 
due  him  for  our  success ;  and  this  success  far  surpassed 
our  expectations,  because  I  was  not  certain  that  the 
eggs  would  hatch.  I  was  not  prepared,  and  had  not  a 
suitable  room  for  the  worms  ;  and  to  have  succeeded 
against  such  disadvantages  the  only  explanation  I  can 
give  for  it  is  that  we  are  in  California ;  and,  in  fact,  it 
is  so,  because  elsewhere  they  would  have  been  all  dead, 
but  here  we  have  not  been  able  to  discover  any  disease. 

Now  that  we  have  the  California  silk  before  us,  and 
that  we  also  know  that  it  is  so  easy  to  raise  it  here,  (as 
you  have  seen  in  my  letter  of  September  21,  published 
in  No.  5  of  your  paper)  it  is  of  no  use  for  me  to  reit- 
erate these  facts. 


26  THE    CALIFORNIA 

Now,  I  say,  we  must  all  do  all  we  can  to  raise  that 
important  article  among  us ;  and  to  accomplish  it  we 
must  prepare  for  it.  We  must  first  plant  the  mulberry, 
but  particularly  the  varieties  that  are  known  to  give  silk 
of  good  quality.  With  the  Morus  Multicaulis  which 
has  been  so  celebrated  since  the  time  of  the  mulberry 
fever  in  the  States,  some  twenty-four  years  ago,  we  will 
never  see  such  foolish  speculations,  because  every  one 
now  knows  that  the  mulberry  can  be  obtained  as  cheap 
as  any  other  trees.  The  mulberry  has  such  a  remarka- 
ble growth,  and  is  as  ornamental  as  any  other  trees, 
having  a  fine  foliage  ;  that  for  these  reasons  it  ought  to 
be  planted  everywhere  to  ornament  our  streets,  avenues, 
etc.  ;  and  at  any  time  the  leaves  may  become  useful,  if 
you  choose  to  raise  your  own  silk.  Besides  this,  plan- 
tations will  also  be  made  for  the  purpose  of  raising  silk 
on  a  large  scale. 

I  wanted  to  say  about  the  celebrated  Morus  Multi- 
caulis,  that  it  is  very  good,  but  only  for  the  first  feed- 
ing, that  is  to  say,  for  the  two  or  three  first  periods ; 
while  after  that,  the  other  should  be  used,  because  we 
must  have  in  view  to  raise  silk  of  the  very  best  quality. 

The  coming  season  I  will  have  my  worms  in  a  better 
room,  and  will  not  have  half  of  the  trouble  I  had  the 
first  time.  I  must  close  this  long  letter. 

Truly  yours,  L.  PREVOST. 


27 


[From  the  California  Farmer,  Feb.  15, 1861.] 
THE  SILKWORM  AND   SILK  CULTURE. 

We  are  pleased  to  learn  of  the  increasing  interest 
manifested  for  this  branch  of  industry,  which  to  our 
State  in  its  future  years,  will  be  one  of  great  mag- 
nitude. 

The  demand  for  mulberry  trees  has  taken  all  from 
the  nurseries  that  were  for  sale.  It  has  generally  been 
supposed  that  the  Morus  Multicaulis  is  the  chief  variety 
for  the  silkworm  ;  this  is  not  so.  The  cocoons  are 
much  superior  (so  we  are  informed  by  the  best  authori- 
ities)  when  the  worms  are  fed  upon  the  Morus  Alba, 
and  the  Morus  Moretti.  These,  with  a  small  portion 
of  the  Multicaulis^  will  be  the  food  of  silk-worms  in  this 
State. 

As  we  have  often  said,  we  are  confident  of  the  suc- 
cess of  silk  manufactures  in  California,  and  ere  ten 
years  from  this  date,  the  wives,  daughters  and  sisters 
of  the  Golden  State  will  be  clothed  in  robes  of  silk, 
manufactured  in  our  own  State. 

We  trust,  if  our  Chief  Magistrate  cannot  find  time 
or  opportunities  to  look  after  the  manufacturing  inter- 
ests of  our  State,  that  some  of  our  legislators  will, 
and  that  there  may  be  such  legislation  for  these  interests 
as  they  demand. 

In  the  present  condition  of  this  matter — now  while 
many  persons  are  beginning  to  look  round  and  see  what 
can  be  done,  while  many  are  planting  the  seed  of  the 
mulberry  and  the  tree  also,  we  ask,  would  it  not  be  a 


28  THE   CALIFORNIA 

wise  act  on  the  part  of  the  Legislature  for  them  to  offer 
a  noble  bounty  for  the  successful  produce  of  the  first 
five  pounds  of  sewing-silk  made  in  the  State. 

We  feel  confident,  that  if  a  bounty  of  $1,000,  or 
$5,000,  or  even  $10,000  should  be  offered,  it  would  bring 
back  into  the  State  Treasury  ten  dollars  for  one,  by 
reason  of  the  improvements  and  buildings,  etc.,  which 
would  be  under  way  for  the  purpose.  The  taxable 
property  in  the  State  would  be  increased  enough  to  pay 
the  bounty.  We  hope  such  an  interest  as  this  will 
not  be  slighted.  We  learn,  with  much  regret,  that  L. 
Prevost,  Esq.,  the  zealous  friend  and  promoter  of  this 
valuable  industry,  has  never  received  any  just  reward 
for  his  untiring  efforts  to  bring  this  business  to  a  suc- 
cessful issue,  and  although  he  has  exhibited  the  silk- 
worms, the'  cocoons  and  the  reeled  silk,  in  a  highly 
creditable  manner,  at  the  District  Fair  at  Marysville, 
Stockton,  San  Francisco,  and  at  the  State  Fair,  no  re- 
ward of  a  medal,  or  even  a  just  report  has  been  ten- 
dered him  or  made  of  this  interest,  except  at  the  Fair 
at  Stockton,  where  a  diploma  was  awarded  him,  to  the 
credit  of  San  Joaquin  District,  be  it  said. 

We  respectfully  ask,  shall  so  great  an  interest  as  that 
of  silk  culture,  which  will  be  millions  annually,  be 
passed  by  at  our  Fairs,  while  Guinea  hens,  lop-eared 
rabbits  and  white  swans,  have  prizes  from  five  to  twenty 
dollars  each ;  and  gold  and  silver  goblets  and  cups  are 
given  for  articles  that  never  can  advance  the  interest  of 
the  State.  We  hope  our  legislators  will  think  of  these 
things. 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  29 

[From  the  California  Fanner,  March  28, 1862.] 

SILK    PRODUCTION"   IN    CALIFORNIA— FAVORABLE    PROS- 
PECTS—A NEW  SYSTEM. 

We  are  truly  glad  to  receive  the  following  letter  from 
one  who  is  so  earnest  in  the  cause  of  silk  culture.  As 
Mons.  Prevost  says,  the  culture  of  the  mulberry,  the 
rearing  of  silkworms,  and  the  manufacture  of  silk,  will 
be  one  of  the  great  branches  of  our  industrial  labor  in 
coming  years,  and  we  would  fain  hope  that  the  Com- 
mittee on  Agriculture  may  see  the  importance  of  giving 
attention  to  the  subject  this  session  of  the  Legislature, 
and  offering  a  just  bounty  to  this  valuable  jnterest.  We 
hope  they  will  make  due  inquiry,  and  not  forget  that 
Mons.  Prevost  has  done  much  to  advance  this  interest, 
and  deserves  an  honorable  mention.  The  many  new 
productions  here  named  by  our  correspondent  demand 
a  liberal  bounty  direct  from  the  Legislature  (the  State) 
before  they  can  be  securely  introduced  into  a  large  and 
successful  cultivation. 

SAN  JOSE,  Feb.  24, 1862. 

EDITOR  FARMER  :  In  your  valuable  paper,  under  the 
head  of  "  New  Productions,"  you  ask  for  information 
on  "hemp,  canary, seed,  hops,  flax,  Chinese  sugar-cane, 
and  West  India  sugar-cane,  dioscorea  batatas,  true 
Carolina  potato,  the  cork-bark  oak,  tea  and  coffee." 
I  regret  to  see  that  you  forget  to  mention  the  silk. 
Knowing  your  opinion  on  that  culture,  I  consider  it  as 
an  involuntary  omission.  This  induced  me  to  write  you 
a  few  lines,  to  bring  your  attention  again  to  that  subject, 


30  THE   CALIFORNIA 

which  is  also  very  important  to  our  State,  as  it  would 
save  her  many  millions  of  dollars  for  imported  silk. 
Please  tell  me  why  should  we  send  all  that  money 
away,  when  we  can  keep  it  here,  in  raising  our  own 
silk? 

Since  my  arrival  in  California,  it  has  always  been  my 
opinion  that  we  were  in  the  best  country  in  the  world ! 
But  the  first  attempt  I  made,  the  season  before  last, 
has  surpassed  all  my  expectations.  The  finest  and  best 
silk  has  been  exhibited  all  over  the  State,  and  thousands 
have  seen  it ;  but  many  think  that  silk  cannot  be  raised 
in  California,  to  any  advantage,  on  account  of  the  price 
of  labor.  That  question  I  consider  solved,  and  I  wish 
to  say  a  few  words  to  prove  it. 

The  first  silk  ever  produced  in  California  was  in  1860. 
I  obtained  it,  assisted  by  my  friend,  Mr.  Muller.  We 
have  proceeded  according  to  the  system  adopted  in 
Europe  for  the  silk  culture  ;  but  this  is  too  much  work  for 
California  to  compete  with  other  countries  where  the 
price  of  labor  is  not  so  high.  What  have  we,  then,  to 
do,  to  avoid  such  an  obstacle  ?  To  simplify  that  work 
and  to  reduce  it  to  less  than  half  of  what  it  is  there. 
And  I  have  turned  all  my  attention  toward  that  point, 
knowing  that  it  was  the  only  way  to  insure  the  success 
of  silk  culture  in  California.  Then,  in  reflecting  on  all 
the  advantages  of  our  soil  and  fine  climate,  so  well 
adapted  for  the  silk  culture,  and  combining  all  my 
observations,  and  all  the  remarks  I  could  get  on  the 
nature  of  the  worms,  I  found  what  I  will  call  The  Cal- 
ifornia Silk  Culture.  It  is  entirely  different  from  the 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  31 

system  followed  in  France  or  Italy.  According  to  the 
latter  system,  it  requires  volumes  to  explain  and  give 
all  the  particulars  pertaining  to  the  culture.  But  the 
California  culture  is  so  that  I  can  give  all  the  particu- 
lars about  it  in  a  small  pamphlet  of  three  or  four  pages, 
and  this  new  system  is  so  simplified  that  every  one  will 
understand  it,  and  find  it  no  more  difficult  than  any 
other  culture. 

I  intend  to  try  the  California  silk  culture  for  one  or 
two  seasons  more,  so  as  to  perfect  it,  and  after  that,  if 
properly  encouraged,  I  will  publish  it  for  the  benefit  of 
the  State  ;  and  this  branch,  only,  will  be  a  great  addi- 
tion to  our  home  industry. 

Everything  seems  to  be  in  favor  of  the  silk  culture  in 
California.  Besides  so  favorable  a  climate,  the  mul- 
berry trees  thrive  so  well  here  that  I  have  never  seen 
such  a  growth  in  any  other  country.  And  while  the 
mulberry  tree  is  thus  useful  for  the  feeding  of  silk- 
worms, it  is  also  one  of  our  best  ornamental  trees. 
Yours  respectfully, 

L.  PREVOST. 


[From  the  California  Farmer,  Aug.  22, 1862.] 
THE  SILKQUESTION  SETTLED. 

SAN  JOSE,  August  13, 1862. 

EDITOR  FARMER  :    As  I  stated  in  my  letter  on  the 
silk  culture,  of  the  24th  of  February  last,  I  have  tried 


32  THE   CALIFORNIA 

again  my  California  silk  culture,  and  exceeded  beyond 
my  expectations.  The  worms  this  season  have  taught 
me  another  lesson  themselves,  and  shown  me  another 
point  to  save  labor. 

In  my  last  letter  on  this  subject,  above  mentioned,  to 
insure  the  success  of  the  silk  culture  in  California,  I 
said  that  it  was  necessary  "  to  simplify  the  work,  and 
reduce  it  more  than  half  of  what  is  required  in  Eu- 
rope." I  now  say,  that  according  to  the  California 
culture,  one  man  (or  lady,  no  matter)  can  raise  and 
take  care  of  more  worms  than  six  or  eight  could  ac- 
cording to  the  system  followed  in  France  and  Italy. 
The  climate  is  so  very  favorable  here,  that  we  have  very 
little  to  do  to  raise  our  own  silk.  The  great  objection, 
the  price  of  labor,  does  not  exist  any  more.  Now  it 
will  devolve  on  our  representatives  to  have  this  impor; 
tant  branch  of  industry  extended  all  over  our  State.  I 
will  pledge  myself  to  prove  what  I  have  said,  and  will 
write  a  description  of  that  culture  in  a  small  pamphlet 
of  very  few  pages  ;  it  is  so  simple  that  every  one  will 
understand-  it.  And  more,  if  any  rich  man  that  has 
plenty  of  land  would  make  a  large  plantation  of  mul- 
berry trees,  I  would  go  and  turn  all  his  leaves  into  silk 
before  any  quantity  of  persons  that  would  like  to  come 
and  see  the  California  silk  culture.  I  have  certificates 
and  letters  from  Europe,  that  the  California  silk  has 
been  acknowledged  there  to  be  of  the  first  quality. 

Now,  Mr.  Editor,  several  years  ago  you  predicted 
the  success  of  silk  culture  in  your  paper ;  but  I  am 
sure  that  you  were  very  far  from  thinking  that  it  would 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  33 

be  so  easily  raised.  I  am  very  happy  to  be  able  to 
prove  that  your  opinion  was  well  founded.  Persevere, 
and  continue  to  do  all  you  can  to  induce  the  people  of 
California  to  raise  their  own  material,  and  keep  their 
money.  They  can  do  it,  because  we  canproduce  every- 
thing in  this  country  ;  there  is  no  other  like  it. 
It  is  under  that  impression  that  I  remain, 

Yours  truly,  v  L.  PREVOST. 


[From  the  California  Farmer,  Sep.  9,  1864.] 
THE  SILK  WORM  ENTERPRISE. 

SAN  JOSE,  August  28, 1864. 
EDITOR  CALIFORNIA  FARMER  : 

Your  favor  of  yesterday  is  just  received,  and  accord- 
ing to  your  wishes  I  answer  it  immediately.  You  ask 
me  for  some  hundreds  of  ounces  of  silkworms'  eggs,  for 
a  gentleman  in  Mexico.  I  am  sorry  that  I  can  not  fur- 
nish so  many  ounces.  I  only  have  a  few  ounces  of  my 
last  crop — say  three  or  four — to  dispose  of,  as  I  only 
had  raised  a  small  lot  this  year,  to  keep  up  a  supply  of 
fresh  eggs.  Last  year  I  had  several  orders  for  silk- 
worm eggs,  and  I  sold  all  I  could  dispose  of,  keeping 
only  .a  small  lot  for  myself. 

Last  year,  I  had  an  order  from  Italy,  for  one  hundred 
pounds,  but  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  do  anything 
toward  that  big  order.  If  I  could  have  had  so  many  it 
would  have  been  a  little  fortune  for  me.  Only  think  of 


34  THE   CALIFORNIA 

such  a  quantity ;  at  40,000  eggs  per  ounce  it  would 
only  be  sixty-four  millions  of  eggs.  The  reason  there 
is  such  a  demand  for  eggs  for  Europe,  is  because  they 
are  diseased  there,  and  they  know  that  in  California 
they  are  not,  the  climate  being  unexceptionably  favora- 
ble to  their  culture.  For  these  reasons,  the  business 
would  be  one  of  the  most  profitable,  to  raise  silk-worms 
on  a  large  scale  for  their  eggs  only,  so  as  to  supply  Eu- 
rope and  some  other  parts  of  the  world,  whose  interest  is 
to  get  their  eggs  from  the  best  sources  and  free  from  dis- 
ease. Now,  what  would  make  the  business  more  profit- 
able, is,  that  taking  advantage  of  our  fine  climate  ;  and 
according  to  California  culture,  one  man  can  take  care 
of  as  many  silk-worms  as  six  or  eight  would  in  Europe, 
according  to  the  old  system,  which  they  are  obliged  to 
follow,  as  the  nature  of  the  atmosphere  did  not  allow 
them  to  do  as  we  can  here.  My  repeated  experiments, 
every  year — or  the  last  several  years — convinces  me 
that  my  system  is  the  best,  and  the  only  one  to  be 
adopted  in  California,  or  any  other  country,  that  would 
possess  a  similar  climate. 

I  remember  that  I  had  promised  to  write  you  a  series 
of  articles  on  the  "  Silk  Culture,"  but  for  want  of  time 
I  have  not  been  able  to  do  it  yet ;  but  I  will  write  them 
as  soon  as  my  occupations  will  allow  me  a  little  leisure 
— have  patience. 

Every  time  I  have   been  in  San  Francisco  I  called 

at  your  office,  but  had  not  the  pleasure  to  find  you.     I 

will  try  it  again,  next  time — that  will  not  be  very  long, 

if  I  conclude  to  take  some  silk  and  cocoons  to  the  Fair. 

Respectfully  yours,  L.  PREVOST. 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  35 

[From  the  California  Farmer,  Oct.  28, 1864.] 

SILK    CULTURE. 

SILKWORMS,   SILK   CULTURE,    SILKWORM   EGGS,    ETC. 

We  are  happy  to  lay  before  our  readers  the  very  in- 
teresting and  valuable  letter  of  L.  Prevost,  Esq.,  of  San 
Jose,  the  pioneer  silkworm  grower  and  silk  culturist  of 
our  State. 

We  call  special  attention  of  all  who  feel  an  interest 
in  the  upbuilding  of  our  State,  to  the  facts  here  pre- 
sented. Not  only  have  we  received  one  order  for  500 
ounces  of  the  eggs  named,  (which,  at  the  price  of  $12 
per  ounce,  would  have  been  $6,000)  but  many  other 
orders,  and  we  agree  fully  with  Mr.  Prevost  that  silk 
culture  will  be  one  of  the  "greatest  interests  "  of  our 
State. 

The  CALIFORNIA  FARMER  has  been  an  earnest  advo- 
cate of  this  branch  of  home  industry  from  the  very  first 
number  that  was  issued,  in  January,  1854,  to  the 
present  time. 

In  another  column  we  publish,  from  the  FARMER,  our 
views  of  some  past  dates,  and  often  at  that  early  date 
these  views  were  looked  upon  almost  with  contempt,  as 
being  the  vagaries  of  wild  enthusiasm. 

We  have  ever  found  Mons.  Prevost  an  earnest,  zeal- 
ous and  scientific  worker  in  this  enterprise,  and  our 
State  owes  him  a  great  debt  for  what  he  has  done  to 
bring  the  enterprise  into  so  successful  an  issue.  We 
are  glad,  indeed,  to  herald  the  success  of  other  coworkers 
with  him. 


36  THE   CALIFORNIA 

A  few  years  more,  and  we  shall  see,  in  our  growing 
State,  silk  manufactories  as  flourishing  as  our  woolen 
factories. 


SAN  JOSE,  October  21, 1864. 
EDITOR  CALIFORNIA  FARMER  : 

As  I  am  receiving  orders  for  silkworms'  eggs,  through 
the  post  office,  or  otherwise,  so  often,  I  thought  to  write 
you  a  few  lines  in  a  great  hurry  on  that  subject,  think- 
ing that  they  would  be  of  great  benefit  to  many  of 
your  readers.  Facts  always  need  to  be  known,  and  I 
will  state  nothing  but  facts  that  I  can  prove  any  time. 

In  1860,  when  I  raised  silk  for  the  first  time,  in  Cali- 
fornia, I  sent  specimens  of  it  and  cocoons  to  all  the 
Fairs  of  the  State,  and  the  press  spoke  very  highly  about 
it,  but  I  heard  a  great  many  persons  express  thoughts 
that  it  could  not  be  done  in  this  State,  on  account  of 
the  price  of  labor.  As  here,  in  California,  the  price  of 
buying  three  or  four  acres  of  good  land  does  not  exceed 
the  price"  of  renting  one  acre  in  Europe,  I  thought  this, 
and  employing  Chinamen  to  do  the  work,  would  com- 
pensate for  the  difference  in  the  price  of  labor ;  but, 
besides  that,  I  had  so  much  t  confidence  in  the  culture 
of  silk  in  this  State,  that  I  have  been  thinking  very 
much  about  it,  and,  by  taking  advantage  of  our  fine 
climate,  so  much  in  favor  of  that  culture,  I  changed 
the  old  way  of  cultivating  the  silk-worm,  and  adopted  a 
system  of  cultivation  that  reduces  the  labor  considera- 
bly, and  is  so  simplified  that  one  man  can  cultivate  as 


37 

many  worms  as  eight  men  could  in  Europe,  with  the 
old  system.  I  have  repeated  it  these  last  three  years, 
and  succeeded  always  beyond  my  expectations. 

Last  year  I  had  an  order  from  a  house  here,  for  one 
hundred  pounds  of  silkworms'  eggs,  for  Italy ;  it  was 
impossible  for  me  to  do  anything  toward  filling  such  an 
order,  and  I  sold  all  I  could  dispose  of  at  $12  per  ounce, 
and  kept  about  half  an  ounce  for  my  own  use,  so  as  to 
have  fresh  eggs  for  this  year.  If  I  had  enough  eggs 
for  that  order  of  one  hundred  pounds,  it  would  have 
been,  even  in  reducing  the  price  at  wholesale,  something 
about  $12,000.  I  do  not  know  of  any  other  culture 
that  the  benefits  derived  could  come  near  it,  as  you 
have  to  work  only  two  months  at  it,  in  all. 

I  am  very  sorry  that  I  kept  such  a  small  lot  of  eggs, 
because  I  see  that  the  demand  for  eggs  continues — as 
you  know  I  had,  through  you,  an  order  from  Mexico 
for  five  hundred  ounces,  lately.  A  few  days  after  I 
had  another  order  for  five  pounds,  from  Italy  ;  also  two 
other  smaller  orders,  and  we  are  only  at  the  beginning 
of  the  season,  because  these  orders  only  come,  generally 
during  the  winter,  as  it  is  the  proper  season  for  them  to 
travel.  I  will  certainly  receive  many  other  private  or- 
ders soon,  but  I  will  not  be  able  to  fill  any,  as  I  have 
concluded  to  keep  all  the  eggs  on  hand,  so  as  to  have  a 
good  lot  for  next  year.  I  am  very  glad  to  see  that  in 
Europe  they  will  have  to  draw  on  California  for  good 
eggs,  because  their  wet  atmosphere  is  the  cause  that 
their  silkworms  are  diseased,  and  they  will  consequently 
lose  most  of  their  crop  in  using  domestic  eggs,  and  thev 
3 


38  THE    CALIFORNIA 

secure  a  good  crop  by  using  sound  eggs,  imported  from 
countries,  as  in  California,  where  they  cannot  be  dis- 
eased. The  dryhcss  of  our  climate  protects  them  from 
the  disease,  which  proves  that  California  is  about  the 
very  best  spot  on  this  globe  to  raise  silk,  which  can  be 
made  very  profitable  by  following  what  I  may  call  the 
"  California  Silk  Culture,"  which  is  extremely  simple. 
This  process  would  enable  us  to  compete  with  any 
other  nation,  and  help  to  retain,  in  our  State,  many 
millions  of  dollars,  besides  being  a  great  profit  to 
raise  the  worm  for  silk  only ;  but  we  see  now  that  it 
would  be  still  a  greater  profit  to  raise  them  to  supply 
the  Old  Country,  or  any  other  part  of  the  world  where 
they  have  a  wet  climate. 

I  consider,  now,  the  silk  question  settled  in  this  State. 
Only  consider  :  five  or  ten  acres  planted  in  mulberry 
trees,  the  quantity  of  worms  that  could  be  fed  from 
them,  in  view  of  the  luxurious  growth  of  the  mulberry 
in  this  country.  I  am  happy  to  be  able  to  say  that 
some  gentlemen  have  started  it  already  on  a  pretty 
large  scale.  I  will  name  here  two  in  Santa  Barbara — 
they  are  Mr.  A.  Packard,  and  also  Mr.  E.  Goux,  who 
have  planted,  two  years  ago,  three  thousand  mulberry 
trees  ;  that  notwithstanding  the  dryness  of  the  season, 
and  the  trees  being  very  young,  yet  made  two  pounds 
of  eggs  without  any  trouble ;  I  also  received  a  letter 
from  Mr.  Goux,  two  days  ago,  which  confirms  the  state- 
ment. This  is  very  gratifying,  because  these  gentlemen 
expect  to  have  a  large  quantity  of  eggs  next  year,  if  we 
have  plenty  of  rain  this  winter  to  make  the  trees  grow. 


SILK    GROWER'S   MANUAL.  39 

Only  think  of  this  and  you  may  form  some  idea  of  it,  as 
one  female  lays  about  one  hundred  eggs,  and  there  are 
about  forty  thousand  eggs  to  the  ounce. 

In  1860,  when  I  raised  silk  for  the  first  time,  I  also 
sent  cocoons  to  our  highest  Seriate  Societies  in  Europe, 
especially  to  Paris  and  Lyons,  to  have  them  tested,  and 
I  have  received  certificates  from  both  cities,  that  the 
California  silk  is  of  the  first  quality.  What  do  we 
want  more  ? 

I  am  for  home  industry,  and  I  feel  very  happy,  now, 
to  know  that  I  will  succeed  in  having  that  culture  estab- 
lished, which  will  be  of  great  benefit  to  our  State.  In 
order  to  encourage  this  useful,  pleasant  and  profitable 
pursuit,  all  over  the  State,  I  will  occasionally  give, 
through  the  columns  of  the  CALIFORNIA  FARMER,  any 
information  that  may  be  desired,  in  regard  to  the  mode 
of  planting  and  treating  the  mulberry  tree,  for  the  Cali- 
fornia Silk  Culture. 

Yours  truly,  L.  PREVOST. 


[From  the  California  Farmer,  Dec.  2,  1864.] 

SILK    CULTURE. 

TJiK    RAINS CHEERFUL  PROSPECTS MULBERRY  CULTIVATION PLANTING 

AND   PROPAGATING   VARIETIES    OF   TREKS,    ETC. 

SAN  JOSE,  November  30, 1864. 
Editor  California  Farmer : 

On  the  18th,  19th,  and  20th  inst.,  we  had  the  heavi- 
est frosts  in  San  Jose  for  some  years ;  I  measured  some 


40  THE    CALIFORNIA 

ice  that  was  nearly  half  an  inch  thick  on  the  water. 
We  all  expected  after  such  a  frost  to  have  good  rain, 
and  this  time  we  have  not  been  deceived  ;  it  began  on 
Friday  last  in  the  afternoon,  and  continued  on  Saturday, 
pouring  down  all  day  and  night  all  over  our  mountains, 
and  in  our  now  blessed  valley.  We  had  it  also  on  Mon- 
day, heavy  and  wet,  and  our  rivers  and  creeks  have 
raised.  Yesterday,  we  had  but  very  little,  and  we  dug 
some  black  locust  trees  and  found  that  the  ground  was 
not  wet  all  through. 

It  has  been  raining  again  last  night,  and  also  all  day 
to-day,  and  you  have  no  idea  of  the  effect  it  has  on  every- 
body ;  you  can  see  the  joy  on  every  face,  and  in  fact 
we  must  all  rejoice  and  thank  the  Great  Master  for 
having  not  forgotten  us.  We  are  all  right,  now,  and  I 
hope  that  it  is  so  all  over  our  cherished  State.  Now,  as 
soon  as  the  rain  stops  a  little,  every  one  can  go  to  work, 
plow,  sow  grain,  and  plant  trees — the  sooner  the  better. 

In  this  important  moment,  I  thought  that  it  was  neces- 
sary to  make  your  readers  remember  that  the  advant- 
ages of  the  silk  culture  in  California  have  been  fully 
demonstrated  in  the  columns  of  the  FARMER — that  as 
time  for  action  and  preparation  is  at  hand,  if  they  wish 
success  they  must  get  ready  during  the  good  season. 

Some  of  your  readers  may  think  that  I  am  writing  in 
order  to  sell  mulberry  trees ;  I  wish  to  tell  them  that 
the  last  drought  destroyed  nearly  all  my  young  trees,  and 
what  I  have  left  is  hardly  worth  mentioning.  But  in  or- 
der to  show  them  that  I  am  not  moved  by  any  specula- 
tive motive,  but  only  by  the  general  good,  I  will  give 


SILK    GROWER'S    MANUAL.  41 

them  here  the  varieties  and  the  culture  of  the  mulberry 
tree,  so  that  everybody  can  raise  and  cultivate  his  own 
trees.  It  is  a  well  known  fact  that  the  mulberry  has  a 
very  luxuriant  growth  in  California — does  well  in  nearly 
every  kind  of  soil,  but  has  a  kind  of  preference  for  a 
good  loamy  soil.  We  can  show  shoots  here  of  one  year, 
having  from  five  to  seven  and  more  feet  in  length  ;  this 
is,  I  suppose,  enough.  The  mulberry  besides  furnish- 
ing the  best  food  for  silkworms,  could  be  made  one  of 
our  best  ornamental  trees ;  but  at  present  we  have  not 
to  consider  it  under  that  point  of  view ;  we  have  to  con- 
sider it  as  to  its  value  for  feeding  and  raising  silkworms. 
Here  are  the  best  varieties : 

1st. — The  White  Mulberry  (morus  alba).  This  is 
the  best  variety  for  the  culture  of  silk,  it  produces  the 
very  best  quality. 

2d. — Another  very  good  variety  is  the  Morus  Mo- 
retti,  which  has  a  little  wider  leaf ;  this  kind  is  a  variety 
of  the  above.  These  two  varieties  are  easily  propaga- 
ted from  seed,  which  you  have  to  sow  in  drills  some 
time  in  February  or  March.  To  succeed  you  must  have 
fresh  seeds,  and  for  that  you  must  get  them  from  a  good 
reliable  store. 

3d. — Morus  Multicaulis  has  a  still  larger  leaf,  but 
is  tender  to  frost;  this  variety  is  very  good  for  feed- 
ing the  silkworm  when  young,  suppose  about  for  the 
first  two  ages.  This  variety  is  easily  propagated  by 
cuttings. 

After  the  cuttings  and  seedlings  have  been  growing 
one  year,  it  will  be  very  well  to  have  them  replanted 


42  THE    CALIFORNIA 

in  nursery  rows,  and  leave  them  to  grow  that  way  one 
year,  and  then  transplant  them.  But  to  avoid  this  last 
work,  I  think  they  would  do  very  well,  if  the  best  cut- 
tings and  seedlings  were  planted  so  as  to  do  the  work 
but  once  ;  for  that  you  must  have  a  field  well  and  deeply 
plowed  up  before  planting,  as  large  as  necessary  to  con- 
tain the  quantity  of  trees  you  wish  to  plant ;  one  acre 
would  hold  four  hundred  and  thirty-five  trees,  in  plant- 
ing them  ten  feet  apart  which  is  about  a  fair  distance 
for  the  California  silk  culture — and  for  that  culture,  also, 
they  must  be  headed  at  about  four  feet  high. 

When  any  other  information  shall  be  needed,  I  will 
always  be  ready  to  give  it.     But  let   us  produce   our 
own  silk  and  supply  other  countries  by  all  means. 
Yours   respectfully, 

L.  PREVOST. 

P.  S. — In  my  letter  published  in  the  FARMER,  Octo- 
ber 28th,  (No.  14)  you  make  me  say  that  a  female  lays 
about  one  hundred  eggs,  when,  in  the  letter  I  wrote 
"  three  hundred  eggs."  L.  P. 


[From  the  California  Farmer,  Doc.  2, 18G4.] 

RAISING  SILKWORMS  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

Steadily  facts  begin  to  develop  the  adaptability  of  our 
State  as  peculiarly  fitted'  to  the  raising  of  silkworms 
and  the  manufacturing  of  silk,  and  there  is  'no  reason 


43 

in  the  world  why  California  should  not  bo  eminently 
successful  in  this  business,  almost  immediately,  only  the 
public  mind  has  not  seized  upon  it  strongly  enough  to 
make  a  morus  multicauUs  fever ;  but  when  it  does 
come,  it  will  have  its  run,  like  every  other  speculation, 
and  then  settle  down  into  a  quiet  and  prosperous  busi- 
ness. 

Some  weeks  since  we  published  an  interesting  letter 
from  Mons.  Prevost,  of  San  Jose,  upon  the  silkworm, 
in  which  he  spoke  of  his  success,  and  of  others  who 
had  been  successful,  showing  also  the  demand  already 
for  the  eggs,  both  for  home  use  and  for  France  and 
Italy,  the  fact  being  now  established  that  California 
can  rear  a  healthier  silkworm  than  most  other  parts  of 
the  world,  and  orders  have  come  to  our  State  for  a  very 
large  amount  of  eggs  the  past  year. 

Recently,  a  vessel  from  Japan  brought  to  our  city 
sixty-four  cases  silkworms'  eggs,  the  value  being  some- 
thing like  $20,000.  These  were  imported  here  to 
order,  to  be  immediately  reshipped  to  France  via  Pan- 
ama, thence  to  Southampton  and  to  Havre. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  the  raising  of  the 
silkworm  and  the  preparing  of  the  eggs  for  sale  will  be 
a  profitable  business  for  this  State,  as  it  is  a  well  known 
fact,  that  of  late  years  a  fatal  disease  has  made  havoc 
with  the  silkworm  of  France  and  Italy,  and  they  will 
become  purchasers  of  all  we  have  to  spare. 

With  these  facts  before  us,  would  it  not  be  well  to 
plant  the  mulberry,  and  begin  the  work  ?  Little  girls 
and  misses,  and  young  women,  will  find  it  a  pleas- 


44  .  THE    CALIFORNIA 

task  to  feed  these  pretty  worms,  and  it  will  be  not  only 
a  pleasant  but  a  profitable  way  to  spend  time  ;  to  rear  the 
worms,  reel  the  delicate  thread,  and  spin  the  silk,  will  be 
more  honorable  employment  than  spinning  street  yarn. 

We  hope  attention  will  be  given  to  this  matter  im- 
mediately. 

After  the  above  was  in  type  we  were  favored  with 
another  valuable  letter  from  L.  Prevost,  Esq.,  which  we 
publish. 


[From  the  California  Farmer,  Nov.  17, 1865.] 
TO   READERS    AND    CORRKSPONDENTS. 

We  ask  the  attention  of  our  readers  to  the  very  valu- 
able letter  of  the  pioneer  silk  cultivator  of  the  Pacific. 
L.  Prevost,  Esq.,  of  San  Jose.  This  letter  speaks 
volumes,  and  we  rejoice  at  his  success,  and  feel  happy 
with  him  at  the  fulfillment  of  our  own  sanguine  prophe- 
sies in  years  past.  We  hope  croakers  against  such  en- 
terprises will  now  stop  their  throats  and  learn  wisdom. 


SAN  JOSE,  Nov.  12,  1865. 
COLONEL  WARREN,  Editor  California  Farmer  : 

DEAR  SIR  :  For  want  of  time,  and  other  circumstan- 
ces that  you  know,  it  has  been  impossible  for  me  to 
write  anything  to  you  about  silk  culture  in  our  State 


BSITY 


45 

Notwithstanding  the  great  success  obtained  this  year, 
and  the  great  pleasure  I  had  in  seeing  it  earnestly  ap- 
preciated wherever  I  have  exhibited  the  silk  and  silk, 
cocoons,  and  to  have  received  from  the  Societies  the 
highest  testimonials,  in  the  shape  of  gold  medals,  etc., 
I  cannot  make  you  understand  how  happy  I  am  to  see 
my  efforts  are  at  last  appreciated,  and  to  see  that  the 
people  of  California  begin  to  understand  and  look  to 
their  true  interests,  for  I  can  predict  to  them  that  in 
future  this  branch  of  industry  will  bring  more  to  the 
State  than  all  the  other  productions  together.  I  think 
I  can  take  the  mines  in,  as  they  are  nothing  but  a  lot- 
tery, where  very  few  have  a  chance  ;  but  with  the  silk 
there  is  no  deception.  Our  regular,  dry  summers, 
without  rain,  storm,  or  electricity,  insure  you  regular, 
good  crops,  and  the  beauty  of  such  an  enterprise  is  that 
we  do  not  fear  any  opposition.  Any  thinking  man  can 
understand  it,  and,  as  [  have  said  many  times,  if  it  was 
possible,  by  a  miracle,  that  the  whole  State  be  planted 
next  year  with  full  grown  mulberry  trees,  and  most  of 
the  people  engaged  in  raising  silk,  you  could  not  con- 
vince me  that  it  would  lower  the  price  of  silk  two  cents 
per  pound,  as  we  have  not  only  California  for  a  market, 
but  we  have  the  whole  world.  Silk  at  the  present  time 
is  bound  to  raise  in  price.  It  has  raised  this  year 
twenty-five  per  cent. ;  then  it  is  our  interest  to  encour- 
age as  many  as  possible  to  go  into  raising  it,  as  it  can- 
not be  but  a  great  benefit  to  the  State,  and  as  we 
live  in  the  State  we  will  all  feel  the  good  of  it. 

I  have  sold  my  silkworm  eggs  for  France,  and  all  I 


46  THE   CALIFORNIA 

can  furnish  for  the  coining  year,  but  I  will  keep  always 
what  I  think  I  need  for  California,  and  to  those  who  will 
raise  and  plant  mulberry  trees,  I  will  furnish  them  gratis 
their  first  eggs ;  they  will  only  have  to  let  me  know  the 
quantity  of  food  they  have,  to  guide  me  for  the  eggs  to 
send,  and  that  for  several  years.  This  shows  how  I 
wish  to  see  competition  all  over  our  blessed  State. 

The  cultivation  of  silk  is  nothing,  under  our  fine  silk 
climate,  and,  as  you  know,  and  your  readers  know,  I 
have  been  able  ,to  simplify  it  so  much  that  as  soon  as 
I  will  have  the  "  California  Silk  Culture  "  published, 
everybody  will  be  able  to  raise  silk  as  well  as  other  pro- 
ducts. I  have  written  already  that  my  "  California 
Silk  Culture  "  will  reduce  the  work  on  the  old  system 
followed  in  France  and  Italy,  considerably.  I  have  to 
say  now  in  regard  to  that  point,  that  I  have  raised  this 
last  season,  myself  alone,  over  one  hundred  thousand 
silkworms,  and  each  worm  making  a  cocoon,  and  this  is 
the  work  of  eight  persons  in  France  or  Italy,  where  silk 
is  raised  so  extensively,  and  where  millions  and  millions 
of  families  are  living  off  this  work.  In  Italy  the  pro- 
duct of  exported  silk  exceeds  in  value  two-thirds  of  all 
other  exportations  together. 

Everything  is  in  favor  of  silk  culture  in  California, 
and  this  shows  that  Nature  always  does  everything  right, 
and  is  never  forgetful ;  because  if  the  climate  is  so  fa- 
vorable to  the  silkworms,  it  is  also  extremely  favorable 
with  our  good  virgin  soil,  to  the  growth  of  mulberry  trees, 
which  grow  very  well  everywhere  in  this  State,  but  of 
course,  like  everything  else,  prefer  certain  soils.  When 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  47 

at  Sacramento  I  noticed  the  very  best  of  soil  that  I 
ever  saw  for  the  mulberry  tree,  and  I  have  been  in- 
formed that  most  of  the  whole  valley  is  like  it.  I  have 
observed  trees  there  of  six  years'  growth  that  surpass 
very  far  anything  I  have  ever  seen. 

In  order  to  enable  everybody  to  raise  their  own  mul- 
berry trees,  I  have,  as  you  know,  published  in  your 
valuable  paper,  about  a  year  ago,  the  culture  of  that 
tree,  either  by  seeds  or  cuttings,  but  I  wish  to  mention 
here,  that  if  any  of  your  readers  wish  any  more  infor- 
mation about  that  culture,  or  any  information  pertaining 
to  the  silk  cause,  on  any  point  that  I  may  have  omitted, 
I  wish  them,  for  the  benefit  of  the  public,  to  ask  me  the 
question  through  the  CALIFORNIA  FARMER,  and  I  will 
do  my  best  to  answer  and  satisfy  them  in  the  same 
manner. 

The  enumeration  of  facts  in  favor  of  the  silk  culture 
in  California  are  many,  and  they  will  be  the  subject  of 
another  letter,  as  soon  as  possible ;  but  I  will  write  to 
you  probably  next  week  about  the  premiums  offered  by 
the  State  on  silk.  It  was  not  my  intention  to  exhibit 
anything  this  year,  so  I  was  not  prepared,  but  I  intend 
to  prepare  for  next  year,  so  as  to  make  everybody  stop 
to  look  at  my  exhibit.  It  was  only  through  the  sug- 
gestion of  my  friend,  Mr.  H.  F.  Williams,  that  I  ex- 
hibited at  the  Mechanics'  Fair,  and  the  State  and  Stock- 
ton Fairs.  I  am  very  glad  that  I  did  so  now.  It  has 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  public,  so  that  now  we 
can  consider  that  the  impulse  is  given.  But  there  is 
one  thing  that  you  do  not  know,  which  will  do  a  great 


48  THE    CALIFORNIA 

deal  towards  engaging  a  large  number  in  this  sure  and 
profitable  business,  and  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  of 
detailing  to  you  and  your  readers  to-day,  what  it  is. 
These  are  the  facts : 

I  had  lately  the  pleasure  to  have  the  visit  of  two 
representatives  of  the  two  largest  silk  houses  in  Europe, 
on  their  return  from  China,  where  they  bought  a  very 
large  quantity  of  silkworm  eggs.  They  are  on  their 
way  back  to  France.  They  took  the  cars  to  see  me, 
and  get  information  about  the  silk  culture  in  California. 
These  gentlemen  are  scientific  and  practical  silk-grow- 
ers and  manufacturers.  I  told  them  everything  about 
our  climate  and  the  silk  in  California.  I  have  shown 
them  my  silk  cocoons,  and  where  I  have  raised  them  ; 
the  mulberry  trees,  etc.  I  gave  them  cocoons  and 
eggs  as  a  present  for  their  houses,  and  they  gave  me  a 
fine  lot  of  a  very  good  variety  of  silkworm  eggs  from 
China.  Knowing  the  silk  business  thoroughly,  they 
were  apt  to  understand  and  appreciate  everything  per- 
taining to  it.  They  were  so  very  well  pleased  with 
what  they  have  learned  in  their  visit  to  San  Jose,  that 
they  are  coming  back  next  summer,  each  of  them  with 
the  necessary  capital  to  buy  something  like  one  hundred 
acres  each,  to  raise  silk  and  silkworm  eggs  on  a  large 
scale ;  and  they  very  likely  will  be  the  cause  of  several 
other  silk-growers  to  come  from  Europe. 

What  do  you  think,  Colonel  ?  Is  it  not  your  opinion 
also,  that  after  'this  the  silk  business  will  be  fairly 
started  in  California  ?  All  this  gives  me  the  idea  to 
write  to  France,  to  some  of  the  leading  papers,  about 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  49 

silk  in  California.  This  I  think  would  induce  a  good 
many  French  and  Italian  silk-growers  to  come  out  and 
establish  themselves  here,-  as  we  can  very  easily  demon- 
strate to  them  the  superiority  of  our  climate  over  theirs. 
Let  me  know  your  opinion  about  my  idea. 

I  learn  that  the  mulberry  plantations  of  our  friends, 
Messrs.  Packard  &  Goux,  of  Santa  Barbara,  are  doing 
finely,  and  that  they  will  be  able  to  raise  the  coming 
season  a  very  large  quantity  of  silk  cocoons. 

By  what  I  can  guess,  my  presence  at  Sacramento 
will  be  the  cause  of  the  planting  of  very  near  a  million 
of  mulberry  trees.  I  have  not  been  able  to  learn  to 
what  extent  they  will  be  planted  in  San  Joaquin  valley, 
but  we  already  have  from  last  year  quite  a  plantation 
there  by  Mr.  Glessing. 

Now,  Colonel,  you  ought  to  be  proud  for  having  been 
in  favor  of  that  culture,  now  that  the  results  are  known. 
At  first  your  readers  would  hardly  notice  your  remarks 
on  it;  but  they  will  find  that  the  culture  in  California 
will  leave  far  behind  all  other  culture  or  industry  as  to 
product.  Only  look  at  it  for  a  moment  in  the  future. 
Let  us  look  and  consider  the  thousands  upon  thousands 
of  people  to  which  this  new  industry  will  give  employ- 
ment, and  consider  also  that  it  is  an  easy  work,  that 
can  be  done  by  aged  persons,  as  well  as  by  the  young 
folks  of  both  sexes,  to  raise  and  to  manufacture  it ;  let 
us  consider  these  rich  goods  that  our  ladies  are  so 
happy  to  wear,  coming  out  of  our  numerous  manufac- 
tories ;  let  us  look  to  the  immense  quantity  of  goods 
that  will  be  shipped  on  board  of  our  vessels,  to  be  car- 


50  THE    CALIFORNIA 

ried  away  to  every  part  of  the  world !  Oh  !  how  happy 
should  I  be  if  I  could  live  long  enough  to  see  all  that. 
I  have  made  my  home  in  California,  and  nothing  now  in 
the  world  could  induce  me  to  leave  her — we  cannot  be 
separated,  except  by  death. 

I  cannot  close  this  letter  without  letting  you  know  an 
important  point  that  I  have  learned  in  the  company  of 
those  experienced  silk-growers,  to  whom  I  refer  above, 
and  this  could  be  headed — "  California .  Silk  a  Superior 
Article."  Their  opinion  is  that  our  climate  and  soil 
being  so  superior,  that  by  selecting  every  year  the  very 
best  cocoons  for  the  eggs,  for  our  own  use,  we  will 
obtain  a  California  variety  that  will  surpass  everything 
known  elsewhere,  as  to  size  and  quality.  We  must  not 
forget  this. 

Now  I  will  close  this  letter,  with  the  hope  that  your 
numerous  readers  will  be  pleased  to  know  all  these  facts. 
They  will  find  me  always  ready  to  tell  them  everything 
I  know  that  pertains  to  the  prosperity  of  our  beloved 
State.  Yours  truly, 

L.  PREVOST. 


[From  the  California  Farmer,  April  19,  1866.] 

SILK  CULTURE  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

[We  lay  before  our  readers  another  interesting  and 
valuable  letter  from  the  Pioneer  Silk  Culturist,  L. 
Prevost,  Esq.,  of  San  Jose,  whose  earnest  zeal  for  the 
cause  he  has  espoused,  is  worthy  of  all  praise,  and 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  51 

whose  devotion  to  the  best  interests  of  our  State  over 
and  above  his  own  self  aggrandizement,  deserves  all 
honor. 

Had  Mr.  Prevost  been  like  some  parties  who  were 
fierce  for  great  bounties  by  the  State,  he  would  have 
secured  a  large  sum  to  himself;  but  he  labored  hard 
and  was  successful  in  changing  these  bounties,  and 
now  they  will  be  widely  scattered  in  small  sums.  May 
success  and  honor  crown  such  men. 

SAN  JOSE,  April  16, 1866. 
COL.  WARREN,  Editor  California  Farmer : 

DEAR  SIR  :  In  sending  you  last  week  the  Cerratonia 
seed,  I  wrote  you  in  a  great  hurry — a  few  lines  only — 
telling  you  that  the  news  about  silk  culture  was  cheering. 
I  am  not  through  yet  answering  all  the  letters  that  came, 
during  my  absence,  from  different  parts  of  the  State, 
and  also  several  from  France,  on  the  silk  question.  I 
conclude  to  stop  a  minute  and  write  you  a  few  lines,  to 
let  your  readers  know  what  is  going  on  about  that  im- 
portant branch  of  industry.  They  will  excuse  me  for 
being  obliged  to  write  in  such  a  hurry.  I  hope  to  have 
occasion  to  talk  more  with  them  on  the  subject. 

It  appears  from  my  silk  letters,  that  we  have  in  our 
State  all  the  men  for  every  branch— in  fact  all  the 
elements  among  us,  from  the  planting  of  the  mulberry 
up  to  the  manufactured  silk,  in  all  shapes,  ready  for 
our  ladies. 

In  the  letters  from  France  I  see  that  we  will  have 
quite  a  number  of  silk-growers,  spinners,  and  manufac- 


52  THE    CALIFORNIA 

turers.  I  wish  to  remark  to  you  that  one  of  them  had ' 
my  name  through  the  columns  of  the  CALIFORNIA  FAR- 
MER, and  that  in  the  south  part  of  France.  I  wish  also  to 
inform  you  of  a  very  important  fact,  and  that  is,  in  a 
few  months  we  shall  have  our  pioneer  silk  manufactory. 
A  friend  sailed  last  Tuesday  on  the  steamer  to  Panama, 
on  his  way  to  New  York,  to  buy  all  the  necessary  ma- 
chinery, and  I  hope  at  our  next  Fair  we  will  have  the 
first  California  Manufactured  Silk.  This  will  be  an 
inducement  for  many  to  go  into  this  fine  and  profitable 
business,  because  we  are  assured  of  a  market  at  home 
for  our  silk  cocoons.  I  think  that  we  will  be  able  to 
furnish  that  manufacturer  with  four  or  five  hundred 
thousand  this  year. 

You  have  already  published  in  your  columns  the 
encouragement  offered  by  the  State.  It  is  very  impor- 
tant to  see  that  that  bill  has  passed  in  that  shape — that 
it  is  an  encouragement  for  all  that  will  go  into  it,  all 
over,,  our  blessed  State,  and  that  for  four  years,  this 
culture  being  properly  encouraged,  will  induce  a  great 
many  to  go  into  it,  and  the  culture  will  be  well  started, 
after  which  it  will  not  need  to  be  encouraged,  as  it  will 
pay  itself  such  profits  that  we  will  soon  have  silk  man- 
ufacturies  in  all  the  principal  cities  of  the  State.  Now 
that  such  an  encouragmeent  by  the  State  is  given  I  will 
give  another ;  I  will  part  with  the  California  silk  culture 
and  give  to  everybody  all  that  I  know  about  it.  I  hope 
in  a  week  or  twelve  days  to  begin  to  write  the  California 
Silk  Manual,  in  which  I  will  give  first  the  culture  of 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  53 

the  mulberry  tree,  and  its  propagation  by  seed  and  by 
cuttings ;  after  the  mulberry  our  California  silk  cul- 
ture, or  the  management  of  silkworms. 

Besides  writing  the  California  Silk  Manual,  I  will  do 
two  public  feedings  or  treatment  of  worms,  from  eggs 
to  eggs,  or  the  whole  process — the  first  iji  one  of  our 
halls  in  San  Josd,  beginning  the  15th  of  May  next,  and 
the  second  in  the  Agricultural  Hall  at  Sacramento, 
beginning  on  the  10th  of  July.  In  that  way  our 
people  who  need  information,  will  get  it.  I  will  do  all 
in  my  power  to  make  them  understand.  All  those  who 
take  an  interest  in  it  will  have  a  good  opportunity  to 
learn,  and  when  they  find  that  it  is  so  simple  under  our 
fine  climate,  and  that  it  is  a  work  that  can  be  done  by 
ladies  and  young  folks,  and  also  aged  persons  not  fit  for 
harder  labor,  they  will  thus  be  enabled  to  go  into  it, 
and  particularly  when  I  will  give  them  the  means  to  do 
it  with  a  very  small  capital.  This  work  can  be  under- 
taken by  all.  As  to  the  advantages  of  our  climate 
over  the  other  countries,  I  have  fully  demonstrated  in 
my  previous  letters.  I  wish  particularly  to  remark 
that  the  beauty  of  that  culture  is,  that  we  do  not  fear 
any  competition ;  on  the  contrary,  we  need  it,  because 
our  market  for  that  article  is  the  whole  world,  and  our 
climate  being  so  superior,  our  silk  is  of  the  first  quality, 
arid  consequently  we  will  get  the  highest  price  for  it. 

Instead  of  sending  seven  millions  of  dollars  out  of 
the  country  for  imported  silk,  we  must  all  go  to  work 
and  do  all  in  our  power  to  retain  that  amount  among 


54  THE   CALIFORNIA 

us,  and  make  the  millions  sent  out  come  back  with  a 
compound  interest.     Let  us  do  it — we  can ! ! 

Respectfully  yours,  L.  PIIEVOST. 


[From  the  Califorffia  Farmer,  Slay  10, 1866.] 
SILKWORMS— FEEDING  AND  CARE. 

SAN  JOSE,  May  8, 1866. 
Editor  California  Farmer  : 

MY  DEAR  SIR  :  A  few  days  after  I  started  to  Sacra- 
mento, where  I  have  been  nearly  two  months,  my  wife 
sold  some  silkworm  eggs  to  a  party  from  Santa  Barbara, 
and  afterwards  left  my  two  boxes  of  eggs  in  my  office, 
when  they  should  have  been  kept  constantly  in  the  coolest 
part  of  the  cellar.  On  my  return,  I  put  them  back 
immediately  into  the  cellar ;  but  it  was  too  late ;  they 
were  prepared  to  hatch — having  been  so  long  a  time 
under  the  influence  of  hatching  heat,  and  the  other  day 
in  going  to  visit  them  I  found  them  mostly  hatched  out 
and  the  balance  hatching.  I  have  now  between  eight 
hundred  thousand  and  a  million  of  them,  and  as,  in 
and  about  San  Jose  there  is  food  for  hardly  one  hun- 
dred thousand  at  present,  I  am  obliged  to  go  to  Sacra- 
mento, where  I  have  food  for  them.  Thus  it  will  be 
seen  that  it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  do  the  "  public 
feeding "  at  San  Jose  this  season,  as  anticipated.  It 
will  be  reserved  for  next  season. 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  55 

I  will  leave  some  worms  with  my  wife  to  take  care  of, 
in  case  anybody  wishes  to  see  them  there. 

I  will  have  a  grand  exhibition  of  silk  and  silk  co- 
coons at  our  Santa  Clara  Fair,  on  the  18th  of  Sep- 
tember, next,  and  will  give  there  all  the  information 
needed  on  that  important  subject.  I  will  see  that  in 
the  future  such  an  accident  will  not  occur  again.  It 
has  never  before  occurred  with  me  during  the  five 
years  that  I  have  been  raising  the  silk  in  California. 
Yours  Truly,  L.  PREVOST. 


[From  the  California  Farmer,  May  17, 1866.] 
SILK  CULTURE. 

SACRAMENTO,  May  14, 1866. 
COL.  WARREN,  Editor  California  Farmer : 

DEAR  SIR  :  I  arrived  at  Sacramento  with  my  large 
family  of  silkworms.  We  are,  I  suppose,  about  two  mil- 
lions altogether,  those  hatched  and  those  hatching  now. 
They  are  doing  finely,  and  seem  to  be  very  comfort- 
able ;  they  will  soon,  fill  up  the  whole  room.  I  will  do 
every  day  all  in  my  power,  to  show  and  tell  everything 
about  silk  culture  to  all  who  wish  information,  so  as  to 
enable  every  one  that  will  attend  the  whole  process,  to 
conduct  the  business  successfully  themselves.  It  is 
very  important  for  the  country  that  the  knowledge  of 
silk  culture  should  be  spread  all  over  it,  and  this  would 


56  THE   CALIFORNIA 

be  attained  if  every  locality  would  take  steps  to  appoint 
a  person  (gentleman  or  lady)  to  be  here  present  during 
the  whole  process,  and  thus  they  would  be  able  to  learn 
it  to  all  those  of  their  own  locality,  and  in  doing  this, 
with  very  little  trouble  and  expense,  silk  culture  would 
soon  be  known  all  over  the  State,  and  thus  the  whole 
people  would  be  benefitted.  Our  women  will  find  in  it 
an  agreeable  and  profitable  employment.  In  France  it 
is  a  part  of  the  education  of  young  women ;  they 
every  one  of  them  receive  a  small  lot  of  eggs,  they 
hatch  them,  feed  the  worms  and  raise  the  cocoons ; 
thus  they  are  familiar  with  a  work  that  may  be  very 
useful  to  them  afterwards. 

Respectfully  yours,  L.  PREVOST. 


[From  the  California  Farmer,  Juno  7, 186fi.] 
THE  SILKWORMS  AT  SACRAMENTO. 

We  give  our  readers  the  following  note  from  Mons. 
Prevost,  from  Agricultural  Hall,  Sacramento,  relative 
to  the  condition  of  his  "  silkworms,"  and  thus  keep  our 
readers  posted  as  to  their  progress. 

It  will  be  seen  that  our  pioneer  is  at  the  "  post  of 
duty,"  doing  all  he  can,  and  promises  our  readers  some 
interesting  letters  soon,  relative  to  the  superiority  of 
his  "  silkworm  system." 

We  can  also  inform  our  friend  that  the  eggs  he  kindly 
gave  us  (which  were  also  hatching)  the  day  he  passed 
through  this  city  to  Sacramento,  are  doing  nobly  with 


IVERSITY 


57 


us,  and  our  little  band  of  a  few  thousand  are  growing 
finely,  and  we  shall  try  and  show  him  some  splendid 
cocoons,  as  we  have  a  liberal  supply  of  mulberry  leaves 
in  our  garden,  and  our  daily  feeding  is  very  interest- 
ing to  us. 

Will  our  friend  Prevost  please  see  the  letter  of  in- 
quiries about  silk  culture  in  another  column,  and  ren- 
der us  such  aid  as  the  cause  needs. 

Mons.  Prevost,  as  a  Florist,  will  also  read  with 
pleasure,  the  letter  from  Mr.  Hogg,  from  Yokohama, 
Japan. 

SACRAMENTO,  June  6, 1866. 
Editor  California  Farmer : 

MY  DEAR  SIR  :  I  see  in  your  last  issue  that  you  have 
been  visiting  the  silkworms  at  San  Jose,  and  you  say  that 
the  little  trouble  and  care  under  my  system,  will  soon 
bring  that  important  branch  of  business  into  notice.  You 
have  said  a  great  truth,  because  the  superiority  of  my 
system  is  now  fully  demonstrated.  A  letter  from  my 
wife,  dated  May  31st,  says  that  her  worms  are  making 
their  cocoons ;  while  my  worms,  of  the  same  age  of 
those  I  left  with  my  wife,  have  only  begun  yesterday. 
She  is  then  seven  days  ahead  of  us  here  at  Sacra- 
mento. The  reason  is,  here  I  cannot  follow  my  system, 
as  we  have  to  depend  on  others  to  get  the  food,  they 
will  not  allow  us  to  cut  the  branches.  This  will  be  the 
subject  of  a  letter  when  I  will  have  time.  I  have  not  the 
time  at  present,  because  this  way  of  feeding  with  the 
leaves  only  gives  us  ten  times  more  work,  and  it  is  not 
half  so  good.  In  great  haste, 

Yours  truly,  L.  PREVOST. 


58  THE    CALIFORNIA 

[From  the  California  Farmer,  June  14,  1866.] 

SILK  CULTURE. 

SACRAMENTO,  June  11, 1866. 
COL.  WARREN,  Editor  California  Farmer : 

DEAR  SIR:  I  have  read  with  great  pleasure  the 
letter  in  your  last  number  from  your  correspondent  H. 
If  I  had  a  little  time,  all  his  questions  could  be  an- 
swered, as  I  see  he  is  right,  and  has  a  true  idea  of  the 
subject.  In  regard  to  the  cocoonery,  I  can  show  you 
at  any  time  a  full  plan  of  those  in  France,  but  we  do 
not  need  here  such  expensive  ones,  as  we  have  to  do  a 
very  little  of  what  they  have  to  do  there.  It  is  my 
intention  to  write  a  special  letter  on  that  important  sub- 
ject, and  give  my  plans  and  views  on  a  California 
cocoonery.  I  have  received  the  leading  French  papers 
on  silk,  giving  information  on  silk  all  over  the  globe, 
prices,  etc.,  etc.,  and  containing  my  letter  on  Silk  in 
California.  I  have  also  very  important  documents  on 
silk,  enough  to  have  two  or  three  columns  in  your  pa- 
per every  week. 

Our  million  of  worms  here  are  doing  very  well  so 
far.  Please  excuse  me  for  writing  to  you  in  such  a 
hurry.  The  letter  from  my  old  neighbor  and  friend, 
Mr.  Hogg,  pleased  me  very  much. 

Yours  truly,  L.  PREVOST. 


SILK    GROWER'S    MANUAL.  59 

[From  the  California  Fanner,  July  12, 1866.] 

SILK  CULTURE. 
LETTER  FROM  MONS.  PKEVOST  ABOUT  SILKWORMS  AT  SACRAMENTO. 

BRANNAN  RANCH,  July  7, 1866. 

Editor  Farmer — DEAR  SIR  :  I  have  been  so  much 
in  a  hurry  all  the  time  at  Sacramento  that  I  have  not 
been  able  to  find  a  minute  to  write  to  you  before. 

As  the  silk  culture  is  before  the  people,  and  as  it  is 
important  to  all  to  know  something  about  it,  the  public 
has  a  right  to  know  how  and  why  we  had  the  disease 
on  the  worms  at  Sacramento.  It  will  be  seen  that  it  is 
not  owing  to  climatic  circumstances  but  to  a  combina- 
tion of  a  great  many  unforeseen  difficulties  that  I  have 
been  laboring  under  there  and  could  not  avoid. 

During  the  five  years  that  I  have  been  raising  the 
silkworm  in  California,  previous  to  this  year,  I  have 
never  observed  any  disease  among  the  worms  because  I 
had  fresh  mulberry  feed  to  give  them,  but  in  the  Agri- 
cultural Hall  what  had  I  to  contend  with  ? 

1st.  In  the  beginning,  when  I  was  in  need  of  very 
tender  leaves  for  my  young  worms,  I  was  receiving  old 
dusty  leaves  that  worms  three  weeks  old  would  hardly 
have  been  strong  enough  to  eat,  so  that  it  is  very  easy 
to  see  that  they  have  been  suffering  right  at  the  start. 

2d.  With  the  exception  of  a  few  days,  we  had  con- 
stont  cold  weather  from  time  to  time,  the  Sacramentans 
say  they  never  saw  the  like  of  it  before. 

3d.  I  have  been  obliged  many  times  to  feed  with 


60  THE    CALIFORNIA 

wet  leaves,  which  was  enough  to  make  any  worms 
sickly. 

4th.  As  I  had  to  depend  on  a  great  many  persons 
for  the  food  ;  we  were  requiring  it  all  from  the  vicinity 
of  Sacramento,  Marysville,  Nicolaus,  Lincoln,  New- 
castle, Folsom,  etc.,  etc.  The  leaves  coming  in  bags 
were  withered  and  nearly  all  the  time  heated — this  last 
condition  was  sufficient  to  kill  them  all. 

5th.  I  have  never  been  able  while  there  to  have 
-them  fed  regularly  or  full  fed.  Sometimes  fed  but 
twice  and  other  times  three  times,  when  they  ought  to 
have  been  fed  four  or  five  times  a  day.  It  is  very 
extraordinary  that  under  such  bad  treatment  they  kept 
looking  and  doing  well  for  nearly  six  weeks,  until  the 
17th  of  June. 

6th.  On  that  day  all  the  mulberry  food  was  exhausted 
and  we  had  no  more  to  give  them,  so  we  were  obliged 
to  give  them  "  Osage  Orange."  This  forced  change 
from  their  natural  food,  the  mulberry,  started  the  dis- 
ease, and  they  commenced  dying  by  large  numbers 
every  day  ;  some  of  them  started  to  make  their  cocoons 
to  the  number  of  fifteen  thousand. 

I  feel  certain  that  you  and  the  public,  who  can  judge 
correctly,  will  all  agree  with  me,  that  to  have  so  many 
cocoons,  under  a  combination  of  so  many  bad  circum- 
stances, and  call  that  a  success,  it  certainly  speaks 
very  highly  in  favor  of  our  climate  for  silk  culture, 
because  elsewhere  one  of  these  reasons  would  have 
been  enough  to  have  killed  them  all.  I  have  told  many 
persons  that  this  is  no  reason  to  think  that  Sacramento 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  61 

is  not  as  good  a  place  as  San  Jose*  for  silk  worms.  Let 
us  but  feed  them  properly  with  fresh  food,  and  we  will 
have  everywhere  the  same  grand  result.  Some  time 
after  our  loss,  I  was  very  glad  to  hear  from  different 
persons  to  whom  worms  have  been  given,  after  my 
arrival  here,  and  all  those  whoJaave  fresh  food  on  hand, 
write  that  the  worms  have  done  well  and  made  fine 
cocoons.  This  is  the  confirmation  of  all  I  had  said 
before  about  silk  culture  in  Sacramento  Valley.  My 
opinion  is  that  most  of  our  State  is  generally  adapted 
to  silk  culture. 

By  the  information  I  receive,  Santa  Barbara  is  also 
as  good  as  Sacramento  and  San  Jose*  valleys.  During 
my  stay  at  Sacramento,  I  have  not  been  able  to  show 
the  California  silk  culture  as  I  wished.  I  had  to  ex- 
plain our  trouble,  because  my  way  of  feeding  is  with 
branches,  and  this  is  the  best  for  California,  for  three 
very  good  reasons :  1st,  it  is  a  great  labor-saving  ;  2d, 
the  leaves  on  them  keep  fresh  a  longer  time,  and  allow 
the  worms  to  eat  them  all;  3d,  it  keeps  the  worms 
properly  ventilated,  and  this  contributes  largely  to  im- 
prove their  health. 

The  reason  that  I  have  not  been  able  to  show  the 
success  of  California  silk  culture,  is,  that  everybody 
wished  to  keep  every  part  of.  their  trees  so  as  to  make 
cuttings  the  coming  season,  they  would  allow  us  to  take 
nothing  but  the  leaves.  I  am  very  glad  to  see  the 
dispositions  taken  by  our  people  to  propagate,  but  it 
gave  us  ten  times  more  work. 

In  regard  to  cuttings,  I  found  one  way  to  make  a 


62  THE    CALIFORNIA 

great  many  more,  and  have  every  one  to  grow.  I  have 
stated  it  to  a  great  many  persons  ;  but  I  will  publish  it 
in  time  for  the  coming  season,  in  order  that  every  one 
may  be  benefited  by  it. 

In  going  to  Sacramento  I  left  a  lot  of  the  same 
worms  with  my  wife,  ^.n  taking  care  of  them  she  had 
to  follow  my  system,  knowing  no  other.  She  wrote  me 
that  she  had  none  sick,  and  they  made  their  cocoons 
just  seven  days  ahead  of  those  of  the  same  lot  that  I 
had  in  the  hall.  This  is  another  item  of  the  California 
silk  culture.  When  kept  vigorous  they  go  to  work  at 
their  time,  and  when  suffering  it  keeps  them  back. 

As  I  had  agreed  to  come  and  do  a  feeding  in  the 
Agricultural  Hall,  I  came  to  fulfill  my  promises,  and 
made  up  my  mind  to  let  the  public  know  everything — 
the  good  and  bad  circumstances — so  now  every  one  can 
see  and  judge  for  themselves ;  and,  knowing  the  facts, 
they  will  see  very  well  that  there  is  nothing  to  discour- 
age any,  or  injure  the  cause  in  any  way.  Let  us  plant 
mulberry  trees  everywhere,  and  have  plenty  of  fresh 
food  at  our  doors,  and  every  thing  will  be  all  right ; 
but  we  cannot  expect  to  do  anything  without  the  proper 
food. 

I  feel  it  my  duty  to  state  here,  before  closing  my 
letter,  that  the  officers  of  the  State  Agricultural  Society 
have  done  for  me  all  they  possibly  could  do,  and  the 
Secretary,  Mr.  Hoag,  in  particular.  Without  his  aid  I 
should  have  had  to  give  it  up,  because  anything  I  could 
say  would  be  below  the  level  of  his  courage,  energy, 
and  devotion  to  the  noble  cause. 

Truly  yours,      '  L.  PREVOST. 


[  From  the  California  Farmer,  August  9, 186(5.  ] 
SILK  CULTURE— NEW  SERIES. 

LETTER    NUMBEH    ONE — BY    L.    PREVOST. 

SAN  JOSE,  Aug.  7, 1866. 
COL.  WARREN,  Editor  California  Farmer  : 

DEAR  SIR  :  In  a  previous  letter,  from  Sacramento,  I 
told  you  that  I  had  plenty  of  documents  upon  the 
important  question  of  silk.  I  will  begin  to  lay  some 
before  the  public,  and  will  take  from  these  documents 
everything  that  can  advance  the  cause  ;  and  arrange 
every  part  of  them  as  may  apply  to  California,  or  any 
of  our  States,  where  the  climate  is  favorable  to  silk 
culture.  I  will  begin  with  a  very  remarkable  address, 
here  before  me,  delivered  by  the  Rev.  D.  0.  McLean, 
before  the  American  Silk  Society,  in  the  Hall  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  at  Washington,  December 
12, 1839. 

IMPORTANCE  OF  SILK  CULTURE. 

Rev.  Mr.  McLean  begins  thus : 

'  Mr.  President — The  Committee  appointed  to  make 
arrangements  for  the  exercises  of  the  evening,  have 
requested  me  to  accompany  the  resolutions  read  by 
your  Secretary,  with  some  remarks.  Conscious  of  my 
inability  to  meet  the  just  expectations  of  this  Society, 
owing  to  the  shortness  of  the  time  allowed  for  prepara- 
tion, I  nevertheless  consented  to  perform  the  service  to 
the  best  of  my  ability.  Were  my  ability  but  half  equal 


64  THE    CALIFORNIA 

to  my  zeal,  in  the  noble  cause  in  which  we  are  engaged, 
I  might  then  hope  to  present  you  something  worthy  of 
the  occasion.  ^That  our  country  is  experiencing  great 
and  perplexing  embarrassments ;  and  that  wo  are  far 
from  enjoying,  as  a  nation,  the  plenty  and  prosperity 
which  our  almost  boundless  resources  lead  us  justly  to 
expect,  is  painfully  felt  by  all  our  citizens.  We  may 
blame  our  Government  or  our  banks,  but  whatever 
agency  they  may  have  in  our  difficulties,  they  do  not 
directly  produce  them.  Such  are  our  real  or  imaginary 
wants,  that  we  consume  more  than  we  produce ;  and  as 
long  as  this  is  the  case,  neither  our  Government  nor 
our  banks  can  furnish  us  effectual  and  permanent 
relief.  Our  imports  have  exceeded  our  exports ;  our 
consumption  has  gone  beyond  our  production,  for  years, 
in  an  alarming  degree.  The  commercial  balance  against 
us,  this  year,  will  probably  fall  little  short  of  fifty  mill- 
ions of  dollars  ;  added  to  which  is  the  annual  interest 
on  State  loans  amounting  to  full  twelve  millions  of  dol- 
lars more.  That  is,  we  are  this  moment  in  debt  to  the 
amount  of  upwards  sixty  millions  of  dollars,  besides  a 
debt  on  time  for  somewhere  near  two  hundred  millions 
of  dollars,  and  this  debt  must  be  paid.  Our  creditors 
are  themselves  embarrassed  at  home,  and  they  must 
and  will  have  their  money.  Here  is  the  cause  of  the 
melancholy  prostration  of  business  in  our  whole  country, 
the  stoppage  of  banks,  the  ruin  of  merchants,  and  the 
downward  tendency  in  the  price  of  all  the  products  of 
our  soil.  Look  where  we  will,  no  permanent  relief  can 
be  found,  but  in  the  actual  products  of  that  which  will 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  65 

liquidate  our  present  debt,  and  the  possession  of  which 
will  diminish  our  importations  in  time  to  come,  or  serve 
as  a  valuable  export  in  exchange  for  foreign  products. 
But  what  can  we  produce  that  will  promise  these 
desired  results  ? 

'Shall  it  be  breadstuff's,  the  staff*  of  life  ?  That  we 
have  an  immense  territory  adapted  to  the  production  of 
grain,  to  an  almost  unlimited  extent,  is  undoubtedly 
true ;  but  where  shall  we  find  a  market  for  anything 
like  the  quantity  of  grain  that  would  be  necessary  to 
meet  the  annual  balance  against  us,  and  at  a  price  that 
would  be  an  adequate  return  to  the  grower  ?  The 
corn  laws  of  England,  framed  with  great  wisdom  for 
the  development  of  her  own  agricultural  resources, 
amount  to  an  actual  prohibition  of  our  breadstuff's.  Her 
ports  are  never  open  to  the  introduction  of  foreign 
grain,  until  by  reason  of  actual  scarcity,  or  monopoly, 
the  price  reaches  a  certain  maximum  measure  ;  then 
free  ingress  is  allowed  to  the  whole  world,  when  the 
price  falls  below  the  maximum,  and  her  ports  close. 
Other  nations  of  Europe,  in  most  cases,  either  produce 
their  own  breadstuff's,  or  can  procure  them  nearer  home 
and  to  better  advantage  than  from  us. 

Shall  we  rely,  then,  for  relief  on  the  production  of 
grain  ?  This  we  cannot  do — at  least  until  our  national 
legislature,  by  wise  countervailing  regulations,  open  for 
us  a  more  certain  and  steady  market  than  is  now  fur- 
nished in  any  part  of  the  world.  Millions  of  bushels  of 
wheat  are  at  this  moment  on  hand  in  the  single  States 
of  Indiana  and  Michigan,  which  would  quickly  go  to 


GG  THE   CALIFORNIA 

Europe  as  a  remittance  if  there  was  there  an  open  and 
ready  market. 

Shall  we  turn  to  cotton,  the  great  staple  of  our  nation  ? 
Even  this,  in  all  its  magnitude,  is  unequal  to  produce 
the  desired  results.  The  supply  of  cotton  already  c«juals 
the  demand  at  remunerating  prices.  Other  nations,  as 
well  as  our  own,  produce  this  article,  and  will  undoubt- 
edly continue  to  produce  it  in  an  increasing  quantity  as 
long  as  it  will  command  adequate  returns.  India, 
China,  Asia,  Turkey,  several  of  .the  islands  of  the  In- 
dian Ocean,  Egypt,  Mexico,  Brazil,  and  Texas,  all  pro- 
duce cotton ;  and  all  will  continue  to  produce  it  while 
remunerating  prices  continue.  If  we  therefore  labor  to 
swell  the  production  of  cotton  further,  the  result  must 
be  such  a  reduction  in  the  price  that  it  must  entirely 
oease  to  be  a  valuable  product  at  all.  The  cost  of  pro- 
duction will  equal  or  exceed  the  price  obtained ;  besides, 
when  more  than  one  quarter  of  a  large  and  rapidly  in- 
creasing section  is  devoted  to  this  article,  it  is  at  least 
questionable  whether  the  principles  of  political  economy 
do  not  forbid  other  portions  of  our  country  to  depend  on 
cotton,  while  they  continue  destitute  of  any  valuable  ex- 
ports. 

Indeed,  it  may  be  "fairly' questioned  whether  the  rela- 
tion between  the  demand  and  the  supply  of  cotton  is 
not  at  this  moment  such  that  the  individual  interest  of 
cotton  growing,  as  well  as  the  interests  of  the  whole 
country  would  be  promoted,  if  one-third  less  cotton  were 
produced,  and  the  labor  necessary  to  produce  this  third 
was  devoted  to  the  production  of  other  valuable  articles 
of  export. 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  67 

What,  then,  I  ask  again,  shall  meet  the  balance 
against  us?  Shall  we  turn  to  our  rice  and  tobacco 
fields  ?  These,  indeed,  form  a  respectable  item  in  our 
annual  exports,  but  they  are  utterly  inadequate  to  ac- 
complish the  result  desired ;  and  neither  can  be  materi- 
ally increased  to  advantage.  Where,  then,  shall  we  seek 
for  relief?  Is  it  answered,  diminish  our  imports  ?  True  ; 
but  where  shall  we  begin  ?  What  do  we  import  now  to 
any  considerable  extent  that  is  not  absolutely  necessary 
to  the  real  or  imaginary  wants  of  a  great  and  rapidly 
growing  nation  ?  Will  a  prosperous  people,  with  unlim- 
ited resources,  submit  to  real  or  imaginary  privations 
because  we  read  to  them  homilies  on  political  economy  ? 
Is  it  not  morally  certain,  that  as  our  nation  increases  our 
consumption  must  also  increase,  and  our  importations  in 
a  corresponding  degree  ?  The  only  hope  of  a  diminution 
of  imports,  is  home  production.  We  must  produce,  for 
home  consumption,  some  important  article,  and  in  this 
way  lessen  importations,  or  we  must  produce  something 
largely  for  export  that  will  balance  our  account  current 
with  other  nations.  Once  more,  I  ask,  where  shall  we 
turn  for  relief?  What  shall  we  produce?  Plainly, 
whatever  it  is,  it  ought  to  be  something  which  we  largely 
consume,  which  will  'command  a  high  and  certain  market 
abroad,  and  which  our  country  can  produce.  And  what 
article,  I  ask,  is  this  ?  You  anticipate  my  answer.  I 
fearlessly  affirm,  in  my  deliberate  judgment,  the  produc- 
tion of  silk  alone  will  meet  the  exigency  of  the  case. 
Silk  must  become  a  great  national  staple  in  America, 
if  we  would  secure  and  perpetuate  individual  and  n.a- 


6B  THE   CALIFORNIA 

tional  prosperity.  When  this  becomes  the  case,  and  sir, 
I  honestly  fear,  not  till  then,  under  the  smiles  of  a 
gracious  Providence,  and  the  benign  influence  of  a  pa- 
ternal government,  we  may  walk  abroad  with  proud  in- 
dependence— secure  from  the  vexations  and  embarrass- 
ments which,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  invariably 
attend  a  debtor  nation. 

Here  is  an  article  which  we  largely  consume,  an  arti- 
cle which  we  cannot  dispense  with,  which  the  nation  must 
and  will  have,  either  produced  or  imported,  in  annually 
increasing  quantities. 


[From  the  California  Farm  or,  August  16, 18€6.] 

.    SILK   CULTURE— NEW  SERIES. 

LETTER  NUMBER  TWO. — DY  L.  PRKVOST. 

SAN  JOSE,  August  7, 1866. 
COL.  WARREN,  Editor  California  Farmer  : 

DEAR  SIR  : — Next  to  food,  the  chief  want  of  man  in 
every  state  of  society,  is  clothing.  This,  in  all  civilized 
countries  is  produced  from  wool,  flax,  cotton,  and  silk. 
The  increasing:  extent  to  which  the  silk  enters  into  the 


clothing  of  the  civilized  world  is  amazing  !  In  our  own 
country  it  pervades  every  class  of  society,  and  enters 
largely  into  the  holiday  and  even  daily  habiliments  of 
12,000,000  of  people.  The  average  annual  importation 
of  silk  into  the  United  States,  during  the  last  five  years, 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  69 

was  813,273,114,  In  the  year  1836  it  rose  to  the  enor- 
mous sum  of  between  $25,000,000  and  $26,000,000. 
Now  the  mere  abstraction  of  such  an  enormous  item  from 
our  indebtedness  would  almost  render  us  independent. 
(This  data  was  made  for  the  year  1839. — ED.  F.) 

But  should  we  even  produce  this  article  to  twice  over 
the  extent  of  our  own  wants,  a  ready  foreign  market  is 
open  for  all  that  we  can  produce  of  the  raw  material,  at 
most  liberal  prices.  England  alone,  where  lies  most  of 
our  indebtedness,  manufactures  silk  probably  to  a  great- 
er extent  than  any  other  nation.  Her  manufactured  silks 
amounted  last  year  to  the  enormous  sum  of  $72,000,000. 
What  a  splendid  prize  is  this  for  which  to  contend.  And 
of  the  raw  article  she  consumed  nearly  or  quite 
$17,000,000  worth ;  and  the  whole  of  this  large  supply 
must  be  drawn  from  abroad.  England  cannot  produce 
the  raw  silk ;  she  has  made  repeated  attempts,  but  owing 
to  the  humidity  of  her  atmosphere,  or  to  some  other 
cause,  she  has  always  failed,  until  she  has  given  it  up  in 
despair.  She  must,  then,  rely  entirely  on  other  nations 
for  the  vast  amount  necessary  to  carry  on  her  extensive 
manufactures.  She  draws  her  supplies  now  mainly  from 
India  and  Italy,  but  would  unquestionably  draw  it  main- 
ly from  us,  could  we  produce  it,  because  we  furnish  a 
better  article  than  she  can  elsewhere  procure,  as  she  her- 
self acknowledges.  England  alone  would  therefore  fur- 
nish a  ready  market  at  fair  prices  for  all  the  raw  silk 
which  we  can  possibly  produce,  even  if  our  productions 
should  far  exceed  the  most  sanguine  hopes  or  desires  we 
have  ever  dared  to  indulge  in  ;  because  consumption 


70  TUB   CALIFORNIA 

will  yet  increase  in  proportion  to  the  increase  of  produc- 
tion. 

During  the  last  four  or  five  years  the  consumption  of 
the  raw  material  has  actually  increased  about  2,000,000 
Ibs. 

France,  too,  produces  less  of  the  raw  material  than 
she  requires  for  her  manufactories.  In  1835  she  ex- 
ported some  $22,700,000  of  manufactured  silks,  and. 
imported  some  four  or  five  million  dollars  worth  of  the 
raw  material ;  foreign  demand,  then,  does  actually  exist 
to  an  almost  unlimited  extent ;  a  wide  door  invites  us 
to  enter  and  occupy. 

You  may  swell  the  product  even  beyond  the  exports 
of  cotton,  which  the  last  year  amounted  to  the  enor- 
mous sum  of  $61,000,000,  and  not  sensibly  affect  the 
price  of  raw  silk,  certainly  not  so  as  to  prevent  adequate 
returns  for  the  costs  of  production.  If  our  embarrass- 
ments then  are  measured  by  millions,  here  is  an  article 
the  home  consumption  and  the  foreign  demand  for  which 
will  also  count  by  millions — will  meet  the  exigency  of 
our  case.  Every  State  in  our  Union  may  remit  the 
annual  interest  on  its  foreign  loans,  in  bales  of  raw 
silk,  aye,  and  may  ultimately  remit  the  principal,  too, 
without  exceeding  the  demand. 

Here,  then,  certainly  is  an  article  which  we  largely 
consume  at  home,  and  which  will  command  a  ready 
market  in  any  quantities  abroad.  But  can  we  produce 
it  ?  Why,  I  ask  in  reply,  can  we  not  ?  Nature  has 
surely  thrown  no  insurmountable  obstacles  in  our  way  ; 
we  are  nearly  or  quite  on  the  same  parallel  of  latitude 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  71 

with  the  principal  silk-growing  countries  of  the  world ; 
the  mulberry  which  furnishes  food  for  the  silkworms  we 
know  will  flourish  here,  because  in  very  many  portions 
of  our  country  it  is  of  spontaneous  growth,  and  even 
the  more  valuable  kinds  which  have  of  late  years  been 
introduced  into  our  country,  which  have  been  supposed 
incapable  of  enduring  the  rigors  of  our  Northern  win- 
ters, are  found  by  actual  experiments  everything  that 
their  warmest  friends  could  desire.  In  the  actual  pro- 
duction of  silky  experiments  have  been  made  in  every 
period  of  our  colonial  as  well  as  national  existence, 
which  have  uniformly  resulted  in  the  production  of  silk 
of  as  beautiful  a  texture  and  luster  and  as  strong  a 
fiber  as  is  produced  in  any  country;  especially  have 
experiments  been  made  during  the  last  few  years 
from  Maine  to  Florida,  which  have  triumphantly  set- 
tled the  practicability  of  producing  silk  in  our  country. 
There  is  something  in  the  dryness  and  elasticity  of  our 
summers  which  seems  to  adapt  our  country  to  a  peculiar 
degree  to  the  production  of  silk ;  we  can  produce  it,. 
therefore,  just  as  certainly  as  we  can  produce  corn  or 
wheat.  But  can  we  produce  it  to  a  profit  ?  Are  not 
the  circumstances  of  our  country  such  that  the  cost  of 
production  will  equal  if  not  exceed  the  value  of  the 
article  produced  ?  '  Here-,  it  must  be  confessed,  is  the 
consideration  which  must  be  decisive  on  the  whole  sub- 
ject, both  in  an  individual  and  national  point  of  view. 
Individuals  will  not  embark  in  any  kind  of  business,  or 
having  embarked,  will  not  pursue  it,  if  found  to  be  un- 
profitable. Now,  can  the  introduction  of  any  business 


72  THE   CALIFORNIA 

benefit  the  nation  which  does  not  benefit  individuals  ? 
The  great  reason  why  it  is  thought  it  cannot  be  profitably 
produced  in  this  country  is  the  fact  that  labor  is  here  so 
much  higher  than  in  any  silk-growing  country  in  the 
world.  How  can  we  produce  it  as  cheap  as  we  can  buy 
it,  when  the  labor  necessary  to  produce  it  costs  three  or 
four  times  as  much  as  the  labor  in  the  silk-growing 
countries  ? 

There  is  much  plausibility  in  these  objections,  I  will 
acknowledge,  and  there  was  a  time  when  it  perplexed 
me  greatly.  There  are  facts,  however,  on  this  subject 
which  seem  to  me  triumphantly  to  meet  all  objec- 
tions to  this  business  drawn  from  the  comparative  prices 
of  labor ;  and  I  love  to  deal  in  facts. 

Is  it  not  a  fact  that  manufactured  cotton  goods  are 
furnished  cheaper  and  better  by  England  than  any  other 
part  of  Europe  ?  Are  not  the  manufactured  silks  of 
England  furnished  as  good  and  as  cheap,  if  not  cheaper 
and  better,  than  the  silks  of  other  countries  where  labor 
is  much  lower  ? 

I  might  instance  the  production  of  our  finest;  linens  ; 
they  are  furnished  cheaper  and  better  by  Holland  and 
Belgium  than  by  any  other  powers  where  labor  is 
cheaper.  France  can  and  actually  does  furnish  fine 
woolens  cheaper  and  better  than  they  can  be  furnished 
by  Spain,  although  the  price  of  labor  is  much  in  the 
favor  of  Spain. 

One  great  reason  why  the  price  of  labor  is  neutralized, 
so  to  speak,  is  a  fact  which  the  history  of  the  world  will 
prove :  that  a  decided  superiority  and  skill  is  usually 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  73 

obtained  in  the  production  of  a  given  article  by  those 
with  whom  the  price  of  labor  is  dearer  than  with  their 
rivals. 

We  know  the  price  of  labor  in  any  country,  other 
things  being  equal,  is  usually  according  to  the  skill  and 
industry  of  those  who  perform  it. 

We  do  not  pay  a  mechanic  or  laborer  a  high  price 
for  his  labor  merely  because  he  chooses  to  ask  it,  but 
because  we  know  that  the  product  of  his  labor  will  fur- 
nish us  with  that  which  we  know  we  can  sell  to  a  good 
profit  after  paying  him  his  wages.  Suppose  that  the 
daily  wages  of  the  East  Indian  is  but  a  few  cents  per 
day:  will  this  advantage  counterbalance  his  want  of 
skill  and  his  destitution  of  the  labor-saving  machinery, 
which  pervades  every  branch  of  business  in  our  own 
free  and  happy  country. 

The  inventive  genius  of  Americans  is  proverbial,  and 
who  can  doubt  the  application  of  skill  and  genius  to 
the  production  of  silk  ?  Improvements  made  here,  we 
know  will  almost  simultaneously  pervade  our  whole  coun- 
try, and  will  quickly  pass  to  England ;  but  to  introduce 
them  into  other  silk-growing  countries  requires  years, 
if  not  generations.  France,  even  polished  France,  has 
been  talking  about  internal  improvements  longer  than 
any  other  nation,  and  to  this  hour  she  has  now  consid- 
erably little  railroad  in  her  whole  dominions  ;  even  the 
little  kingdom  of  Belgium  far  surpasses  her  in  this 
respect. 

In  Italy  and  India  it  is  almost  impossible  to  introduce 
improvements  in  any  valuable  degree  ;  indeed  I  appre- 


74  THE    CALIFORNIA 

hend  that  the  low  price  of  labor  is  in  no  small  degree 
accountable  for  this  ;  and  therefore  the  fact  that  the  low 
price  of  labor  among  those  nations  who  will  be  our  chief 
competitors  in  the  production  of  silk  will  make  that 
production  more  profitable  to  us. 

Is  it  not  a  fact  that  in  England  and  our  own  country, 
where  labor  is  high,  the  capitalist  is  enabled  to  live  well 
and  rapidly  increase  his  means ;  while  in  India,  France, 
and  Italy,  where  labor  is  low,  the  very  reverse  of  this 
is  the  fact ;  the  accumulation  of  wealth  is  very  slow  ? 
What  do  we  care  for  the  competition  of  India  or  the 
nations  along  the  Baltic  in  maritime  trade ;  while  that 
of  England,  where  labor  is  nearly  as  high  as  in  our  own 
country,  we  fear. 

The  whaling  trade  furnishes  a  striking  evidence  on 
this  subject.  This  trade  is  open  to  the  whole  world ; 
yet  with  all  the  low  prices  of  labor,  even  among  power- 
ful and  enlightened  nations,  this  trade  with  us  has  con- 
stantly increased,  and  our  merchants  have  grown  rich 
on  the  profits  of  their  ships,  while  with  them  it  has  uni- 
formly declined,  and  the  proprietors  of  the  sluggish 
ships  of  the  North  of  Europe  are  scarcely  able  to  live. 

But  again.  How  can  the  price  of  labor  operate  to 
our  disadvantage  when  the  silk-growing  countries  of 
Europe  generally,  either  owing  to  their  negligence  or 
their  climate,  are  in  all  cases  obliged  to  make  large  de- 
ductions for  disease  and  death  among  their  silkworms ; 
while  our  attention,  and  the  balmy  nature  of  our  climate, 
render  it  unnecessary  for  us  to  make  any  such  deduc- 
tions. Some  writers  assert  that  even  fifty  per  cent,  is  a 


75 

reasonable  allowance  for  the  large  percentage  which  they 
lose.  Should  it,  however,  be  but  one-quarter  of  this, 
this  consideration  alone  more  than  balances  the  differ- 
ence in  the  price  of  labor. 

If  they  can  lose  such  a  percentage  and  still  make  a 
profit  on  their  low  price  labor,  how  much  greater  profit 
can  we  make,  even  if  our  labor  is  higher,  when  no  loss 
is  sustained.  But  again,  I  ask,  how  can  the  price  of 
labor  operate  to  our  disadvantage,  when  we  are  entirely 
free  from  everything  like  excise  duties  on  trees  and  silk  ; 
a  burden  which  is  borne  heavily  indeed  by  European 
silk-growing  countries  ?  We  have  it,  on  the  best  au- 
thority, that  in  the  Neapolitan  territory  every  mulberry 
tree  pays  to  the  government  an  annual  tax  of  about 
sixteen  cents,  and  every  pound  of  silk  about  thirty- 
three  cents.  Even  the  refuse  and  unprofitable  part  of 
the  silk  and  cocoons  pay  about  one  per  cent,  to  the 
government.  Surely  if  labor  costs  even  nothing  there, 
and  it  is  still  profitable  to  produce  silk,  it  may  be  vastly 
more  profitable  here,  with  all  the  high  price  of  our 
labor. 


76  THE   CALIFORNIA 

[From  the  California  Farmer,  August  23, 1866.] 
SILK  CULURE— NEW  SERIES. 

LETTER  NUMBER  THREE BY  L.  PRETOST. 

SAN  JOSE,  August  20,  1866. 
COL.  WARREN,  Editor  California  Farmer  : 

DEAR  SIR — But  if  we  can,  if  we  actually  do,  grow. 
and  manufacture  cotton,  and  sell  it  in  India  cheaper 
than  they  can  produce  it,  and  cheaper  than  they  can 
elsewhere  grow  it,  why  can  we  not  do  the  same  with  silk  ? 
We  know,  with  all  other  disadvantages,  other  nations 
produce  silk  to  a  profit ;  and  while  in  other  things  we 
yield  to  no  nation  on  earth,  why  shall  we  in  silk  alone  ? 

But  we  are  not  left  to  such  a  course  of  reasoning. 
Conclusive  as  it  is,  to  my  mind,  to  prove  that  silk 
may  be  profitably  produced  in  our  own  country,  I  do 
not  believe  we  are  warranted,  as  yet,  from  actual  re- 
sults, to  speak  with  absolute  certainty  as  to  the  amount 
of  profit,  per  acre,  in  the  production  of -silk  ;  still,  suf- 
ficient is  known,  from  actual  experiments,  to  satisfy  any 
reasonable  mind  that  it  can  be  produced  at  a  profit. 

Why  should  the  inhabitants  among  the  inhospitable 
rocks  and  stones  in  Mansfield,  Connecticut,  enjoy  such 
a  measure  of  prosperity,  if  the  production  of  silk  is  not 
profitable  ?  There  more  attention  has  been  paid  to  the 
culture  of  silk,  and  for  a  longer  time,  than  in  any  other 
part  of  our  country,  and  from  personal  observation,  few 
portions  of  our  country  have  received  less  from  nature 
than  this  town,  and  few  portions,  beyond  all  question, 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  77 

have  less  poverty  and  want — perhaps,  I  might  say,  few 
portions  are  found  where  the  people  enjoy  more  general 
competence  and  comfort — and  to  silk  they  are  confes- 
sedly indebted  for  much  of  the  competence  with  which 
they  are  blessed. 

But  experiments  have  been  made  in  various  sections 
of  our  country  during  the  last  few  years,  expressly 
with  a  view  to  test  the  profits  of  this  business,  and 
feeling  obliged,  as  I  do,  to  believe  the  statements  of 
gentlemen  who  have  made  such  experiments,  my  only 
surprise  has  been  that  the  results  have  shown  such  large 
profits.  I  could  name  experiments  made  in  Massa- 
chusetts, Connecticut,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Penn- 
sylvania, Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  Ohio  ;  but 
they  are  familiar  to  all,  and  they  go  to  prove  that  silk 
can  be  produced  so  as  to  yield  a  very  large  profit. 

But  on  this  subject  I  have  other  evidence  still,  that 
silk  can  be  produced  in  our  country,  notwithstanding 
the  high  price  of  labor,  to  a  large  profit — evidence 
which,  to  me,  at  least,  is  perfect  demonstration — I  ac- 
tually produced  it  myself  to  a  large  profit.  Last  year 
I  actually  produced  silk  at  the  rate  of  $  104  per  acre  ; 
this  year,  valuing  the  raw  silk  at  $4.50  per  pound, 
at  the  rate  of  $108  per  acre.  The  gross  product  this 
year  was  five  hundred  and  twenty  pounds  of  cocoons, 
or  forty-eight  pounds  reeled  silk,  the  cost  of  producing 
which  is  $2.25  per  pound,  or  the  value  of  one  male  or 
two  female  hands,  twelve  weeks  each ;  which,  valuing 
the  silk  as  above,  leaves  the  minimum  profit  $108  per 
acre.  Now,  this  I  know  is  no  mistake  ;  the  silk  before 


<0  THE   CALIFORNIA 

you  will  speak  for  itself.  Nor  were  my  knowledge,  fa- 
cilities, or  advantages  greater  than  those  possessed  by 
any  and  every  member  of  the  community ;  I  am 
perfectly  persuaded  that  every  prudent  man  may 
realize  the  same  result. 

Now,  in  view  of  the  foregoing  reasoning  and  facts, 
can  I  doubt  the  practicability  of  our  producing  silk  at  a 
profit,  notwithstanding  the  high  price  of  labor  ;  and  can 
I,  as  a  patriot  or  philanthropist,  refrain  from  urging  my 
fellow  citizens  to  embark  in  this  business  ?  And  can  any 
man,  who  believes  these  facts  and  this  reasoning,  fail  to 
urge  the-s^me  thing  on  his  fellow  citizens,  by  his  exam- 
ple as  well  as  by  his  precept,  that  demonstration  which  re- 
sults from  the  actual  production  of  the  article  itself  will 
convince.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed  but  that  individual 
cases  of  failure  will  occur ;  some  may  undertake  more 
than  they  can  accomplish,  and  fail ;  untoward  circum- 
stances may  prevent  success  with  others.  The  visionary 
and  the  grasping,  who  expect  at  once  to  amass  a  fortune 
in  the  production  of  silk,  will  be  disappointed,  and  will 
doubtless  abandon  the  whole  thing.  Those  who  engage 
in  the  business,  however,  intelligently,  with  common 
sense,  will,  with  patience  and  perseverance,  invariably 
reap  a  rich  reward,  and,  at  the  same  time,  assist  in 
adding  millions  to  the  wealth  of  their  country.  What 
more  then,  I  ask,  is-  necessary  to  induce  this  whole 
nation  to  commence  the  production  of  silk  ? 

PROFITABLE    WORK   FOR   LADIES,    CHILDREN,    ETC. 

I  advert  to  two  or  three  considerations  which,  in  my 
own  view,  are  of  great  importance  to  this  subject. 


79 

The  first  is,  the  employment  which  the  production  of 
silk  will  furnish  to  that  portion  of  our  community  which 
are  destitute  of  profitable  employment.  All  the  means 
of  human  enjoyment,  and  all  the  accumulations  of 
wealth,  are,  in  one  form  or  other,  the  product  of  human 
labor.  The  happiness  and  wealth  of  nations  are,  there- 
fore, promoted  in  exact  proportion  to  the  active  industry 
of  the  community.  In  order  that  readily  extended 
prosperity  exist,  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  industry 
pervade  every  department  of  society ;  and  that  industry 
should  be  directed  to  objects  adapted  to  those  who 
labor,  and  are  capable  of  producing  wealth,  then  some- 
thing must  be  produced  by  all.  No  community,  as  a 
mass,  can  grow  rich,  no  large  number  of  families  can 
permanently  thrive,  when  one,  two,  three,  or  more 
members  in  each  family  are  entirely  unproductive. 
Suppose  one  quarter  of  the  community  devote  their 
energies  to  speculation,  all  they  gain  is  abstracted  from 
others  in  some  way ;  they  produce  nothing — their 
country  must  grow  poorer — they  must  be  sustained  by 
the  labors  of  the  other  portion  of  the  community,  and 
permanent  prosperity  cannot  exist.  As  nations  and 
large  communities  are  made  up  of  families  and  individ- 
uals, in  order  to  promote  national  prosperity,  it  is  abso- 
lutely necessary  that  industry  pervade  the  domestic 
circle — that  all  the  members  of  our  families  should  be 
usefully  employed.  Under  the  present  state  of 
society  and  the  existing  subjects  of  industry,  however, 
profitable  employment  cannot  be  furnished  to  the  whole 


OF  THE 


80  THE   CALIFORNIA 

of  the  domestic  circle.  In  the  days  of  our  fathers 
there  was,  indeed,  no  want  of  such  employment.  The 
music  of  the  spinning  wheel  and  the  noise  of  the  shuttle 
and  the  distaff  were  heard  in  all  their  dwellings.  The 
numerous  labor-saving  machinery,  the  product  of  the 
last  preceding  age,  introduced  into  almost  every  depart- 
ment of  business,  has  entirely  superseded  these  in  domes- 
tic life.  The  circumstances  of  a  very  large  portion  of  our 
farmers  are  such,  and  the  state  of  society  is  such,  that 
there  is  now  an  absolute  want  of  suitable  and  profitable 
employment  for  the  female  members  of  their  families. 
They  cannot,  in  consistency  with  their  education  and 
rank,  take  hold  of  the  culinary  department,  and  perform 
the  drudgery  of  domestic  duties ;  if  there  are  many 
such  in  the  family,  even  this  would  not  furnish  them 
employment ;  and  the  actual  consequence  is,  that  many 
an  affectionate,  prudent,  and  laborious  father  has  actu- 
ally sunk  beneath  that  dearly  cherished  but  unproduc- 
tive part  of  his  charge.  Every  community,  therefore, 
that  would  secure  permanent  prosperity,  must  seek 
employments  on  which  they  can  profitably  bestow  do- 
mestic labor;  and  where,  let  me  ask,  is  there  an 
employment  that  promises  so  much  in  this  respect  as  the 
production  of  silk  ? 


81 


[From  the  California  Farmer,  August  30, 18B(>.] 
SILK  CULTURE— NEW  SERIES. 

LETTER    NUMBER   FOUR BY    L.  PREVOST. 

SAN  JOSE,  August  26, 1866. 
COL.  WARREN,  Editor  California  Farmer  : 

DEAR  SIR — The  production  of  silk  seems  designed 
for  female  hands.  It  is  suited  to  their  ability,  and 
promises  as  large  returns  for  the  labor  bestowed  as  any 
other  employment.  In  every  period  in  the  history  of 
silk  it  has  actually  received  the  fostering  encourage- 
ment of  female  influence.  Queens  and  noble  ladies 
have  been  its  patrons,  and  the  noblest  daughters  of  our 
land  would  be  honored  by  devoting  their  time  to  the 
production  of  silk  in  some  of  its  stages.  May  we  not 
hope  that  an  article  which  enters  so  largely  into  the 
wardrobe  of  our  wives  and  our  daughters,  which  more 
than  other  fabrics  adorns  their  persons,  will  receive 
their  fostering  care  ?  Indeed,  vast  as  may  be  the  im- 
portance of  the  introduction  of  silk  culture  to  our  coun- 
try, I  .despair  of  witnessing  its  complete  success  until 
our  fair  countrywomen  actually  engage  in  its  produc- 
tion ;  and  one  of  the  most  cheerful  signs  of  the  time  is, 
that  this  to  some  extent,  is  already  the  case.  When 
your  daughters  shall  walk  abroad  in  silks  which  their 
own  hands  have  aided  to  produce,  then  the  culture  of 
silk  as  a  source  of  national  wealth  will  no  longer  be 
doubtful.  Is  it  a  fact,  that  grazing  and  dairy-making 
sections  of  our  country  are  usually  more  independent 


82  THE    CALIFORNIA 

than  even  grain-growing  regions  ;  and  where  will  you 
find  the  reason  if  not  in  the  fact  that  in  the  former  case 
there  is  profitable  domestic  labor,  and  in  the  latter  there 
is  not  ?  If  the  tenants  whose  abodes  are  among  the 
hills  which  are  covered  with  bleating  flocks  and  lowing 
herds,  are  found  continually  making  excursions  down 
and  buying  up  the  beautiful  valleys  beneath  them,  what 
may  we  not  expect  to  see  when  portions  of  these  hills 
are  covered  with  mulberry  trees,  and  millions  of  skilled 
operators  working  unceasingly  by  day  and  by  night, 
under  the  fostering  care  of  female  superintendence  ? 

But  there  are  also  other  members  of  the  domestic 
circle,  besides  those  already  referred  to,  whose  labor  is 
almost  utterly  unproductive,  for  want  of  proper  objects 
on  which  to  bestow  that  labor.  In  almost  every  family 
there  are  children,  and  aged  and  infirm  individuals, 
whose  labor  is  of  little  value  on  the  farm,  and  these  are 
the  persons  who  can  almost  entirely  take  charge  of 
the  cocoonery,  with  a  little  direction  and  superintend- 
ence. Even  children  can  do  much  toward  gathering 
the  leaves  and  feeding  the  worms.  Even  the  aged 
and  decrepid,  with  the  aid  of  ingenious  contrivances 
for  moving  along  by  the  shelves,  can  perform  the  work 
of  the  most  athletic  laborer.  Surely  that  community 
cannot  but  grow  rich  when  the  labors  of  all  are  made 
productive.  Other  communities  may  be  convulsed  with 
every  fluctuation  in  trade  ;  this  can  smile  with  compla- 
cency in  the  midst  of  plenty ;  while  all  are  debtors  to 
them,  they  to  none. 

On  all  plantations  of  the   South,  too,  there  are  un- 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  88 

doubtedly  many  children,  aged  and  infirm  slaves,  and 
mothers,  who  are  of  little  or  no  value  to  their  own- 
ers in  the  production  of  sugar  and  cotton,  perhaps  it 
would  be  safe  to  say,  on  almost  every  estate,  the  labors 
of  one  or  several  able-bodied  field  hands  are  consumed 
in  supporting  those  whose  labor  is  of  no  considerable 
value  on  the  plantations,  who  cannot  because  they  are 
physically  unable,  perform  the  labor  which  alone  is 
required.  Now  if  these  could  be  furnished  with  an 
employment  by  which  they  could  simply  support  them- 
selves, what  a  vast  saving  it  would  be  to  the  planter. 
But  "how  much  more  would  his  interest  be  promoted  if 
it  is  demonstrated  that  the  labor  of  such  a  class,  when 
applied  to  silk,  is  even  more  profitable  than  the  labor  of 
the  most  athletic  field  hands ;  and  that  this  will  be  the 
case  every  enterprising  planter  who  will  make  the  ex- 
periment will  unquestionably  find.  In  the  present  state 
of  the  cotton  trade,  this  is  an  aspect  of  the  subject  of 
the  deepest  importance  to  every  cotton  grower. 

I  know  much  mystery  hangs  around  the  whole  sub- 
ject of  producing  silk,  in  the  minds  of  most  of  our  farm- 
ers; accustomed  to  deal  in  the  heavier  products  $f 
the  soil,  the  delicacy  .of  the  article  causes  them  to  dis- 
trust their  ability  and  skill  in  its  production ;  they 
read  or  have  heard  of  large  and  expensive  cocooneries 
with  nicely  adjusted  shelves,  and  spinning  frames,  with 
furnaces  and  flues,  with  hygrometers  and  thermome- 
ters, and  verometers,  and  hourly  feeding  by  day  and 
night,  and  they  are  actually  frightened  from  the  under- 
taking, or  even  from  an  honest  and  serious  examination 


84  THE    CALIFORNIA 

of  its  practicability;  but  these  appendages  do  not  belong 
to  the  subject.  I  can  speak  at  least  from  some  little 
practical  experience.  The  production  of  silk  in  the 
form  of  the  cocoon,  is  an  exceedingly  simple  thing. 
There  is  not  a  farmer  in  our  land,  who  has  not  sufficient 
accommodations  either  in  his  house  or  outbuildings,  to 
produce  from  one  hundred  to  thousands  of  dollars 
worth  of  silk ;  and  no  fixtures  in  most  cases  will  be 
needed  but  such  as  he  himself,  with  his  hammer  and 
saw,  can  furnish.  Care  and  attention  are  indeed  nec- 
essary, but  these  are  equally  necessary  in  order  to 
secure  the  most  successful  results  in  any  business. 
This  is  a  business  concerning  which  experience  alone 
can  give  us  our  best  and  most  valuable  information ; 
much  undoubtedly  may  be  learned  from  books  and  the 
experience  of  others,  but  we  cannot  hope  for  the  most 
successful  results  until  we  have  had  some  little  experi- 
ence. Some  who  are  engaged  in  no  other  employment, 
may  at  once  commence  large  establishments ;  may  ex- 
pend freely  in  fitting  up  in  the  most  perfect  and  con- 
venient manner  for  the  accommodation  of  the  worms, 
and  with  care  and  prudence  may  entirely  succeed  even 
on  a  large  scale,  the  very  first  year,  without  any  pre- 
vious practical  knowledge.  Still,  in  the  general  intro- 
duction of  the  business  among  our  farmers,  prudence 
requires  that  they  should  commence  cautiously  and  on 
a  small  scale.  A  single  ounce  of  eggs  will  produce  a 
crop  sufficiently  large  for  most  persons  the  first  season  ; 
attention  to  these  will  teach  much  respecting  the  habits 
and  peculiarities  of  the  silkworm  ;  and  will  enable 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  85 

the  culturist  to  make  intelligent  provision  for  the  wants 
and  necessities  of  a  large  crop  the  subsequent  season. 

But  is  it  not  a  fact,  that  some  portions  of  our  older 
States  are  almost  depopulated  ?  Not  only  do  our  youth, 
but  many  of  our  very  best  citizens,  with  heavy  hearts, 
desert  their  homes,  their  comforts,  and  their  friends,  to 
seek,  in  new  and  distant  States,  the  means  of  subsistence 
and  support  for  growing  families,  which  the  cultivation 
of  silk  alone  might  have  supplied  in  abundance  at  home. 

The  advocates  of  silk  are  far  from  wishing  to  see  other 
products  of  our  soil  diminished  ;  but  they  do  wish,  by 
their  example  and  their  precept,  to  add  another  to  the 
existing  list  of  our  productions  ;  they  do  wish  to  develop 
our  resources,  and  add  to  our  population  an  hundred 
fold  ;  they  do  wish  to  retain  in  the  possession  of  our  cit- 
izens all  the  millions  which  are  annually  paid  for  foreign 
silk ;  they  do  wish  to  see  productive  industry  pervade 
every  department  of  life,  and  the  condition  and  comforts 
of  all  our  citizens  improved ;  and  if  ever  an  enterprise 
promised  joy  and  prosperity  to  the  whole  community,  es- 
pecially to  the  poor,  this  is  that  enterprise.  How  can 
the  production  of  a  rich  and  valuable  article,  the  use  of 
which  pervades  every  class  of  society,  which  will  give 
employment  to  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  of  in- 
dustrious people,  which  will  pour  millions  into  our  treas- 
ury, how  can  this  fail  to  better  the  condition  of  the  poor 
as  well  as  of  the  rich  ? 

I  know  that  it  is  difficult  to  introduce  to  the  extent  of 
millions,  any  new  branch  of  industry  among  any  class 
of  men— it  is  not  the  work  of  a  day  ;  patience  and  per- 


86  THE    CALIFORNIA 

severence  will  alone  accomplish  it.  Do  I  mistake  the 
signs  of  the  times,  when  I  predict,  as  I  here  publicly  do, 
the  speedy  and  triumphant  success  of  the  silk  culture 
in  our  beloved  country.  To  my  own  mind,  the  prospect 
before  us  is  bright  with  promise ;  I  look  forward  but  a 
little,  and  my  fondest  anticipations  are  more  than  real- 
ized; I  behold  this  single  product  flowing  to  all  our 
ports  through  a  thousand  channels,  and  peace  and  plenty 
pervading  all  our  borders,  with  no  second  in  the  mag- 
nitude of  its  results. 

An  eminent  senator,  on  a  memorable  occasion,  prom- 
ised all  our  farmers  silken  purses  filled  with  gold  shining 
through  their  meshes ;  but,  alas !  the  worthy  senator 
gave  us  nothing  with  which  to  procure  either  the  purses 
or  the  gold ;  but  here  is  the  silk  to  make  the  purses, 
and  here  is  the  gold — the  returns  of  silk — to  fill  them. 

[The  foregoing  discussion  shows  the  importance  of 
silk  culture,  and  its  benefit  to  our  nation ;  and  I  hope 
it  will  serve  to  convince  as  well  as  please  the  greater 
portion  of  your  readers.] 

Respectfully  yours, 

L.  PREVOST. 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  87 

[Farmer,  September  6,  1866.] 
MANUFACTURE  AND  CULTURE  OF  SILK— NEW  SERIES. 

LETTER  NUMBER  ONE. BY  L.  PREVOST. 

SAN  JOSE,  Sept.  8, 1866. 
COL.  WARREN,  Editor  California  Farmer : 

DEAR  SIR: 

PIONEER  SILK  MANUFACTORY. 

It  pleased  me  very  much  to  see  in  your  last  number 
an  article  on  our  "  Pioneer  Silk  Manufactory."  I  will 
avail  myself  of  the  opportunity  to  write  to-day  on  that 
important  subject,  which  I  consider  as  a  great  event  for 
the  silk  cause  in  California,  and  consequently  will  ad- 
vance greatly  the  interests  of  the  State.  It  furnishes  us 
the  means  of  beginning  that  great  work  of  retaining 
among  us  these  seven  millions  of  dollars  sent  out  annu- 
ally for  importing  silk  for  our  ladies.  It  settles  the  ques- 
tion, as  everybody  can  see,  that  we  have  now  at  home 
a  market  for  all  the  cocoons  we  can  produce..  Our 
friends,  Meyer  &  Newman,  in  offering  to  manufacture 
our  silk,  will  induce  a  great  many  to  go  into  its  culture. 

SELECTION  OF  SOIL  FOR  THE  MULBERRY. 

To  all  those  who  are  about  to  start  in  that  rich  in- 
dustry, I  desire  to  tell  them  for  their  benefit  that  the 
most  important  point  to  begin  with  is  the  selection  of 
the  soil  for  the  mulberry.  It  is  a  fact  that  it  grows 
most  any  where  in  California,  but  more  or  less,  a  deep 
rich,  light,  loamy  soil  is  needed :  in  such  a  case  we  can 


OF  T1TTK 

JNIVERSITY 


88  THE   CALIFORNIA 

obtain  as  much  food  from  one  acre  as  from  two  or  three 
acres  of  other  soils ;  in  that  mulberry  soil,  trees  seven 
years  old  measure  from  two  to  three  feet  in  circumfer- 
ence, and  shoots  one  year  old,  from  ten  to  twelve  feet 
long ;  and  we  have  any  amount  of  such  soil  in  all  the 
valleys  of  California.  I  have  remarked  a  great  quan- 
tity of  it  in  our  beautiful  and  healthy  valley  of  San 
Jose,  but  have  observed  it  more  generally  in  the  Sacra^ 
mento  valley.  We  can  say  that  we  have  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  acres  of  such  soil  in  California,  and  it  is 
incalculable  the  quantity  of  silk  we  can  produce — we 
could  supply  the  whole  world  with  this  article.  But  I 
must  return  to  the' main  subject  of  this  letter. 

SILK   MANUFACTURE. 

The  silk  manufacture  may  be  divided  into  two  branch- 
es :  first,  the  production  of  the  raw  silk ;  second,  its 
filature  and  preparation  in  the  mill  for  the  purposes  of 
the  weaver  and  other  textile  artizans.  The  threads,  as 
spun  by  the  silk  worm  and  wound  up  in  the  cocoon,  are 
all  twins,  in  consequence  of  the  twin  orifice  of  the  nose 
of  the  insect,  through  which  they  are  projected  ;  these 
two  threads  are  laid  parallel  to  each  other,  and  are 
glued  more  or  less  evenly  together  by  a  kind  of  glossy 
^varnish,  which  also  envelops  them,  constituting  nearly 
twenty-five  per  cent,  of  their  weight.  Each  ultimate 
filament  measures  about  one-twothousandth  of  an  inch 
in  average,  fine  silk,  and  the  pair  measure  fully  one- 
onethousandth  of  an  inch  in  the  raw  silk,  as  imported 
from  Italy,  France,  China,  etc. ;  several  of  these  twin 


89 

filaments  are  slightly  twisted  and  aglutinated  to  form 
one  thread  called  a  "  single." 

The  specific  gravity  of  silk  is  1,300,  water  being 
1000.  It  is  by  far  the  most  tenacious  or  the  strongest 
of  all  textile  fibres,  a  thread  of  it  of  a  certain  diameter 
being  nearly  three  times  stronger  than  a  thread  of  flax, 
and  twice  stronger  than  hemp. 

SILK  MANUFACTURE  IN  ENGLAND. 

Until  the  year  1826,  the  English  silk  manufacturers 
in  general  labored  under  very  grievous  fiscal  burdens. 
Foreign  "  organzine,"  or  twisted  raw  silk,  paid  an  import 
duty  of  14s  7d  per  pound ;  raw  Bengal  silk,  4s,  and 
that  from  other  places,  5s  7d;  Mr.  Huskinson  intro- 
duced a  bill  at  that  time,  reducing  the  duty  on  organ- 
zine to  5s,  and  the  duty  on  other  raw  silk  to  3d  per 
pound  ;  the  total  prohibition  of  the  importing  of  French 
manufactured  silks,  which  gave  rise  to  so  much  contra- 
band trade,  was  also  converted  into  a  duty  of  thirty- 
three  per  cent,  ad  valorem.  During  the  reign  of  the 
prohibitory  system,  English  silk  weavers  had  no  variety 
of  pattern  to  imitate  and  no  adequate  stimulus  to  excel, 
on  account  of  the  monopoly  which  they  possessed  in  the 
home  market.  Also,  the  inferiority  of  their  production 
was  a  subject  of  constant  pride  and  congratulation  among 
the  Lyonnais ;  and,  accordingly,  the  English  could  not 
stand  their  competition  anywhere.  At  that  time,  the 
disadvantage  on  English  silk  goods,  compared  to  French, 
was  estimated  in  foreign  markets  at  forty  per  cent. ;  of 
late  years,  it  certainly  does  not  exceed  twenty,  notwith- 


90  THE    CALIFORNIA 

standing  the  many  peculiar  facilities  which  France  en- 
joys for  this  her  favorite  staple. 

THE  SILK  WORM — HOW  IT  LIVES",   SPINS,  DIES,    AND    ITS 
RESURRECTION  AND  PROPAGATION. 

The  silk  worm  is,  like  its  kindred  species,  subject  to 
four  metamorphoses:  the  egg,  fostered  by  the  genial 
warmth  of  spring,  sends  forth  a  caterpillar,  which,  in 
its  progressive  enlargement,  casts  its  skin  either  three 
or  four  times,  according  to  the  variety  of  the  insect. 
Having  acquired  its  full  size  in  the  course  of  thirty  or 
thirty-four  days,  and  ceasing  to  eat  during  the  remainder 
of  its  life,  it  begins  to  discharge  a  viscid  secretion  in 
the  form  of  pulpy,  twin  filaments  from  its  nose,  which 
harden  in  the  air  ;  these  threads  are  instinctively  coiled 
into  an  oval  nest  round  itself,  called  a  cocoon,  which 
serves  as  a  defense  against  living  enemies,  and  the 
changes  of  the  temperature.  Here  it  soon  changes  into 
a  chrysalis  or  nymph  state,  in  which  it  lies  swaddled,  as 
it  were,  for  about  fifteen  or  twenty  days ;  then  it  bursts 
its  cerements  and  comes  forth,  furnished  with  appro- 
priate wings,  antennae,  and  feet,  for  living  in  its  new 
element — the  atmosphere.  The  male  and  female  moths 
couple  together  at  this  time,  and  after  separating,  the 
female  lays  the  eggs  and  soon  dies,  their  whole  existence 
being  limited  to  two  months.  The  cocoons  are  com- 
pletely formed  in  the  course  of  four  days,  the  finest 
being  reserved  as  seed  worms.  From  these  cocoons, 
after  an  interval  of  fifteen  or  twenty  days,  the  moth 
makes  its  appearance,  perforating  its  tomb  by  knocking 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  91 

with  its  head  against  the  end  of  the  cocoon,  after  sof- 
tening it  with  saliva,  and  thus  rendering  the  filaments 
more  easily  torn  asunder  by  its  claws ;  such  moths,  or 
orilias,  are  collected  and  placed  upon  a  piece  of  soft 
cloth  or  paper,  where  they  couple  and  lay  their  eggs. 

HOW  TO  PRESERVE  THE  EGGS,  ETC. 

The  eggs,  or  grains  as  they  are  usually  termed,  are 
enveloped  in  a  liquid  which  causes  them  to  adhere  to  the 
piece  of  cloth  or  paper  on  which  the  female  lays  them  ; 
from  this  glue  they  are  readily  freed  by  dipping  them 
in  cold  water  and  wiping  them  dry.  They  are  best 
preserved  in  the  egg  state  at  a  temperature  of  about 
40°  Fahrenheit.  If  the  heat  of  Spring  advances 
rapidly  in  April,  it  must  not  be  suffered  to  act  on  the 
eggs,  otherwise  it  might  hatch  the  caterpillars  long  be- 
fore the  mulberry  has  sent  forth  its  leaves  to  nourish 
them.  Another  reason  for  keeping  back  their  incuba- 
tion is,  that  they  may  be  hatched  together  in  large 
broods  and  not  by  numbers  in  succession.  The  eggs 
are  made  up  into  packets  of  an  ounce  or  somewhat 
more,  which  in  the  south  of  France  are  generally  at- 
tached to  the  girdle  of  the  women  during  the  day  and 
placed  under  their  pillows  at  night ;  they  are,  of  course, 
carefully  examined  from  time  to  time.  In  large  estab- 
lishments they  are  placed  in  appropriate  store-rooms, 
where  they  are  exposed  to  a  temperature  gradually  in- 
creased till  it  reaches  the  eighty-sixth  degree  of  Fah- 
renheit's scale,  which  term  it  must  not  exceed  (but  in 
California  we  do  not  need  artificial  heat).  Aided  by 
the  heat,  nature  completes  her  mysterious  work  of 


92  THE   CALIFORNIA 

incubation  in  three  or  four  days ;  the  teeming  eggs  are 
then  covered  with  tender  mulberry  leaves  on  which  the 
newly  hatched  worms  creep  up  instinctively. 

TREATMENT  OF  COCOONS. 

The  cocoons  destined  for  filature  must  not  be  allowed 
to  remain  for  many  days  with  the  worms  alive  within 
them,  for  should  the  chrysalis  have  leisure  to  grow,  ma- 
ture, and  come  out,  the  filaments  at  one  end  would  be 
cut  through  and  thus  lose  half  of  their  value ;  it  is 
therefore  necessary  to  extinguish  the  life  of  the  animal 
by  heat,  which  is  done  either  by  exposing  the  cocoons 
for  a  few  days  to  sunshine,  or  by  placing  them  in  a  hot 
oven ;  a  heat  of  170°  Fahrenheit  is  sufficient  for  effect- 
ing this  purpose. 

Eighty  pounds  French,  or  eighty-eight  English,  of 
cocoons  are  the  average  produce  from  one  ounce  of 
eggs,  or  one  hundred  pounds  from  an  ounce  and  a 
quarter ;  but  Mr.  Cobzer,  of  Alsace,  obtained  no  less 
than  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  pounds.  The  silk  ob- 
tained from  a  cocoon  is  from  750  to  1,150  feet  long ; 
the  varnish  by  which  the  coils  are  glued  slightly  to- 
gether is  soluble  in  warm  water. 

OF   SILK   HUSBANDRY   IN   GENERAL. 

The  silk  husbandry,  as  it  may  be  called,  is  completed 
in  France  within  six  weeks  from  the  end  of  April,  and 
thus  affords  the  most  rapid  of  agricultural  returns,  re- 
quiring merely  a  little  capital  for  the  purchase  of  the 
leaf.  In  buying  up  cocoons  and  in  filature,  capital  may 
be  laid  out  to  great  advantage. 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  93 

The  most  hazardous  period  in  the  process  of  breeding 
the- worms  is  at  the  third  and  fourth  moul tings ;  for  upon 
the  sixth  day  of  the  third  age  and  the  seventh  day  of 
the  fourth,  they  in  general  eat  nothing  at  all ;  on  the 
first  day  of  the  fourth  age  the  worms  proceeding  from 
one  ounce  of  eggs  will,  according  to  Bonafous,  consume 
upon  an  average,  twenty-three  pounds  and  a  quarter  of 
mulberry  leaves ;  on  the  first  day  of  the  fifth  age,  they 
will  consume  forty-two  pounds,  and  on  the  sixth  day  of 
the  same  age,  they  acquire  their  maximum  voracity, 
devouring  no  less  than  two  hundred  and  twenty- three 
pounds ;  from  this  date  their  appetite  continually  de- 
creases, till  on  the  tenth  of  this  age  they  consume  only 
fifty-six  pounds.  In  general,  the  more  food  they  con- 
sume, the  more  silk  will  they  produce. 

There  are  three  denominations  of  raw  silk,  viz :  or- 
ganzine,  tram,  and  floss.  '  Organzine  serves  for  the 
warp  of  the  best  silk  stuffs,  and  is  considerably  twisted. 
Tram  is  made  usually  from  inferior  silk,  and  is  very 
slightly  twisted  in  order  that  it  may  spread  more  and 
cover  better  in  the  weft.  Floss,  or  bourre,  consists  of 
the  shorter,  broken  silk,  which  is  carded  and  spun  like 
cotton.  Organzine  and  tram  may  contain  from  three 
to  thirty  twin  filaments  of  the  worm ;  the  former  pos- 
sesses a  double  twist,  the  component  filaments  being 
first  twisted  in  one  direction  and  the  compound  thread 
in  the  opposite ;  the  latter  receives  merely  a  single 
slender  twist. 

Each  twin  filament  gradually  diminishes  in  thickness 
and  strength  from  the  surface  of  the  cocoon  where  the 


94  THE   CALIFORNIA 

animal  begins  its  work  in  a  state  of  vigor,  to  the  center, 
where  it  finishes  it  in  a  state  of  debility  and  exhaustion, 
because  it  can  receive  no  food  from  the  moment  of  its 
beginning  to  spin  by  spouting  forth  its  silky  substance. 
The  winder  is  attentive  to  this  progressive  attenuation, 
and  introduces  the  commencement  of  some  cocoons  to 
compensate  for  the  termination  of  others.  The  quality 
of  raw  silk  depends  therefore  very  much  upon  the  skill 
and  care  bestowed  upon  the  filature.  The  softest  and 
purest  water  should  be  used  in  the  cocoon  kettle. 

The  quantity  of  the  raw  silk  is  determined  by  first 
winding  off  400  ells  of  it,  equal  to  47  metres,  round  a 
drum  one  ell  in  circumference,  and  then  weighing  that 
length ;  the  weight  is  expressed  in  grains,  24  of  which 
constitute  one  denier ;  24-deniers  constitute  one  ounce, 
and  16  ounces,  one  pound,  poid  de  marc.  This  is  the 
Lyons'  rule  for  valuing  silk.  The  weight  of  a  thread 
of  silk  four  hundred  ells  long  is  two  grains  and  a  half. 
When  five  twin  filaments  have  been  reeled  and  associ- 
ated together,  raw  silk  is  so  absorbent  of  moisture  that 
it  may  be  increased  ten  per  cent,  in  weight  by  this 
means;  this  property  has  led  to  falsifications,  which 
are  detected  by  including  weighed  portions  of  the  sus- 
pected silk  in  a  wire  cloth  cage,  and  exposing  it  to  a 
stove  heat  of  about  78°  Fahrenheit  for  twenty-four 
hours,  with  a  current  of  air ;  the  loss  of  weight  it 
thereby  undergoes  demonstrates  the  amount  of  the 
fraud.  There  is  an  office  in  Lyons  called  the  "  Con- 
dition," where  this  assay  is  made,  and  by  the  report 
of  which  the  silk  is  bought  and  sold.  The  laws  in 


95 

France  require  that  all  the  silk  tried  by  the  "  condi- 
tions "  must  be  worked  up  into  fabrics  in  that  country. 

The  raw  silk  as  imported  into  England  in  hanks  from 
the  filature,  requires  to  be  regularly  wound  upon  bob- 
bins, twisted,  and  reeled  in  their  silk  mill ;  these  pro- 
cesses are  called  "  throwing  "  silk,  and  their  proprietors 
are  called  "  silk  throwsters  " — terms  probably  derived 
from  the  appearance  of  swinging  or  tossing  which  the 
silk  threads  exhibit  during  their  rapid  movements  among 
the  machinery  of  the  mills. 

As  I  will  have  to  attend  the  Fairs,  I  will  have  to  stop 
for  a  while.  I  will  resume  in  a  few  weeks  with  letters 
on  silk  and  its  reeling,  and  other  points  pertaining  to 
that  important  industry. 


[Stockton  Independent,  Nov.  18,  1865.] 
SILK   CULTUEE. 

SAN  JOSE,  November  14, 1865. 
Editors  Independent : — In  fulfillment  of  my  prom- 
ise, I  write  you  a  letter  on  the  very  important  silk  ques- 
tion. It  is  not  necessary  to  go  back  to  the  important 
points  in  favor  of  silk  culture  in  California,  which  I 
have  already  published.  I  will  confine  myself  to  the 
present.  It  is  very  gratifying  to  me  to  see  that  silk 
culture  is  duly  appreciated,  and  that  the  public  begins 
to  understand  and  look  to  its  true  interests.  The  soci- 


96  THE   CALIFORNIA 

eties  this  year  have  shown  their  appreciation  of  the  im- 
portance of  that  culture  for  California,  by  giving  me 
the  highest  prizes,  gold  medals,  etc.,  and  I  feel  very 
grateful  to  them  for  having  so  well  appreciated  and  re- 
warded my  efforts.  In  1860,  when  I  raised  silk  for  the 
first  time,  I  sent  silk  and  silk  cocoons  to  every  Fair  all 
over  the  State,  and  though  they  gave  premiums  and 
diplomas  for  things  of  no  importance,  they  did  not  award 
any  premium  to  the  first  California7raised  silk.  So,  you 
see,  I  was  not  encouraged  at  the  first  start.  I  say  that  I 
was  not  encouraged  by  the  societies  generally ;  but  there 
was  one  that  did  encourage  me — the  San  Joaquin  Valley 
Agricultural  Society,  whose  name  will  be  recorded  in 
big  letters  in  the  history  of  silk  in  California.  That 
Society  gave  me  a  diploma  for  the  first  silk  produced 
in  this  State.  The  officers  and  members  of  that  Society 
understood  their  mission,  and  I  remember  it. 

We  cannot  too  much  encourage  our  friends  to  go  into 
this  branch  of  industry,  which  is  bound  to  surpass  in 
value,  for  exportation,  all  other  California  products 
taken  together.  They  can  enter  into  it  with  more  cer- 
tainty of  success  than  in  mining  operations,  because 
they  have  no  opposition  or  failure  to  fear.  The  regu- 
larity of  our  fine,  dry  summers,  without  rain,  storms,  or 
electricity,  which  are  the  enemies  of  silk  culture,  insures 
regular,  good  crops  every  year.  The  beauty  of  this 
new  industry  for  California  is,  that  it  cannot  be  over- 
done. I  say  it  is  the  only  business  in  which  we  need 
not  fear  opposition  or  failure,  because  if  it  were  possible 
to  plant  the  whole  State  next  year  with  full  grown  mul 


97 

berry  trees,  and  everybody  engaged  in  raising  silk,  it 
would  not  lower  the  price  of  silk  two  cents  per  pound, 
as  we  have  not  only  California  but  the  whole  world  for 
a  market.  Therefore  it  is  our  duty  to  encourage  and 
help  all  who  wish  to  engage  in  this  business.  For  my 
part,  I  intend  doing  this  :  I  will  furnish  persons  desiring 
to  start  silk  culture  in  their  locality,  with  their  first  silk- 
worm eggs  gratis.  They  will  only  have  to  write  me 
their  address  and  the  amount  of  food  they  have,  so  as 
to  guide  me  what  number  of  eggs  to  send. 

The  work  necessary  to  raise  silkworms  in  California 
is  very  little,  as  our  climate  is  so  favorable  to  that  cul- 
ture that  it  enabled  me  to  simplify  it  considerably.  In 
proof  of  this  I  need  only  state  that  I  have  this  last 
season  raised  over  one  hundred  thousand  silkworms, 
every  worm  making  a  cocoon ;  and  all  this  with  my  own 
work  alone.  This  is  the  work  of  eight  persons  in  France 
or  Italy.  Our  California  silk  culture  is  so  simple,  that 
as  soon  as  it  is  published  extensively,  everybody  in  the 
State  will  engage  in  raising  silk  as  well  as  any  other 
production.  If  we  consider  it  a  moment,  the  quantity 
of  silk  that  could  be  raised  in  California  is  immense ; 
and  it  would  afford  employment  to  thousands  of  families, 
in  raising  as  well  as  in  manufacturing  it.  It  is  an  easy 
work  that  can  be  done  by  aged  persons,  as  well  as  by 
the  young  of  both  sexes.  Then  our  ladies  would  have 
a  right  to  feel  proud  in  wearing  dresses  made  of  silk 
raised  by  their  own  hands.  In  France  and  in  Italy 
silk  is  raised  very  extensively,  and  millions  of  families 
are  living  by  this  work.  The  silk  exported  from  Italy 


98  THE   CALIFORNIA 

surpasses  in  value  by  two-thirds,  all  other  exportation 
together. 

A  remarkable  fact  is,  that  with  our  climate  so  very 
favorable  to  silkworms,  we  also  have  a  soil  well  adapted 
to  the  growth  of  mulberry  trees.  They  thrive  almost 
everywhere  in  this  State ;  but  the  best  soil  for  them 
that  I  have  yet  seen  is  in  the  bottom  lands  of  the  Sac- 
ramento valley.  A  large  quantity  of  those  trees  will  be 
planted  there  the  coming  season.  I  suppose  that  some 
will  also  be  planted  in  the  San  Joaquin  valley,  where 
there  is  already  quite  a  large  plantation — that  of  Mr. 
Glossing,  commenced  last  year.  But  the  largest  planta- 
tions in  California  are  those  of  A.  Packard  and  E. 
Goux  of  Santa  Barbara.  Those  plantations  were  made 
three  years  ago,  and  are  now  in  fine  condition.  These 
gentlemen  will  raise,  the  coming  season,  a  large  quan- 
tity of  silkworms,  and  will  probably  turn  them  to  eggs. 
My  own  exhibit  of  silk,  from  five  years  raising,  proves 
beyond  a  doubt  that  California  is  the  very  best  spot  for 
that  culture.  This,  and  the  testimony  which  I  receive 
from  others,  shows  that  this  new  industry  for  California 
is  now  fairly  started. 

Two  gentlemen,  experienced,  scientific,  and  practical 
silk  growers,  on  their  way  back  from  China,  where  they 
had  been  to  buy  a  large  quantity  of  silkworms'  eggs, 
recently  came  to  see  me  to  get  information  about  silk 
in  California.  I  told  them  all  the  facts,  showed  them  the 
cocoons  and  where  I  raised  them,  and  also  the  mulberry 
trees.  Being  gentlemen  who  understood  the  silk  busi- 
ness perfectly,  they  agreed  with  me  that  we  have  the 


99 

best  silk  country  in  the  world,  and  were  so  pleased  at 
learning  this  fact  that  they  are  going  to  return  here  next 
summer  with  the  necessary  capital  to  buy  one  hundred 
acres  of  land  each,  to  raise  silkworms'  eggs  and  silk 
on  a  large  scale.  These  gentlemen  are  the  representa- 
tives of  the  two  largest  silk  houses  in  Europe,  and  are 
now  on  their  way  back  to  France.  From  them  I  learned 
a  very  important  fact,  namely,  that  our  climate  is  so 
superior  for  silk  culture,  that  by  selecting  our  very  best 
cocoons  for  eggs,  year  after  year — for  our  own  use 
— we  could,  after  a  few  years,  obtain  cocoons  that  would 
beat  everything  known,  for  size  and  quality,  that  is  to 
say,  a  superior  article.  In  this  opinion  I  fully  concur. 
The  coming  of  these  gentlemen  from  France  will  prob- 
ably induce  other  silk  growers  to  come  also,  which  would 
be  a  great  benefit  to  the  State.  L.  PREVOST. 


[Stockton  Independent,  April  28,  1866.] 
SILK  CULTURE— LETTER  FROM  MR.  PREYOST. 

SAN  JOSE,  April  19, 1866. 

Editors  Independent: — I  wish  to  inform  you  and 
your  numerous  readers  of  the  progress  of  silk  culture 
since  my  last,  so  that  all  who  wish  to  take  an  interest 
in  that  branch  of  industry  may  be  guided  and  benefited 
thereby.  Having  been  absent  from  home  some  seven 
weeks,  I  found,  on  my  return,  a  great  many  letters  from 


100  THE    CALIFORNIA 

different  parts  of  the  State,  making  inquiries  in  regard 
to  silk  culture.  By  these  letters  I  am  satisfied  that  we 
have  in  California  all  the  men  necessary  to  carry  on 
successfully  this  new  branch  of  industry,  in  all  its  de- 
partments, from  the  planting  of  the  mulberry  to  the 
manufactured  silk.  In  addition  to  this,  in  my  letters 
from  Europe,  I  find  that  silk  growers,  silk  spinners,  and 
silk  manufacturers  are  preparing  to  come  to  this  coun- 
try, and  I  am  advising  them  to  bring  with  them  all  the 
necessary  machinery  of  their  trade.  I  am  about  to  write 
all  the  facts  about  silk  in  California  to  go  through  the 
press  in  Europe,  with  the  expectation  that  it  will  incite 
immigration.  We  have  room  for  millions,  and  their 
presence  would  be  of  vast  benefit  to  the  State,  as  in  the 
pursuit  of  which  I  speak,  having  the  whole  world  for  a 
market,  we  have  nothing  to  fear  from  competition. 

A  very  important  matter  bearing  on  this  subject,  is 
the  fact  that  an  act  has  been  passed  by  the  last  Legis- 
lature in  such  a  shape  as  to  give  great  encouragement 
to  all  who  engage  in  the  business,  for  a  term  of  four 
years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time,  the  culture  of 
silk  will  have  been  well  started,  and,  resting  on  a  self- 
sustaining  basis,  will  need  no  further  outside  aid  and 
encouragement. 

Now  that  the  State  has  given  encouragement,  I  will 
do  all  in  my  power  likewise  to  foster  the  business.  It 
is  a  well  known  and  admitted  fact  that  what  our  people 
need  is  information  upon  this  subject.  This,  while  in 
Sacramenta,  I  promised  to  give,  and  towards  that  point, 
I  will,  in  a  few  weeks,  write  a  "  California  Silk  Man- 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  101 

ual,"  in  which  I  propose  to  give  the  most  approved 
and  simplified  modus  operandi  of  the  culture,  manage- 
ment and  propagation,  by  seed  and  cuttings,  of  the 
mulberry  tree,  and  afterwards,  the  culture  of  silk,  and 
management  of  the  worms  according  to  the  best  rules 
of  experience,  in  our  fine,  suitable  climate.  Besides 
the  Manual,  I  will,  this  coming  season,  do  two  public 
feedings  of  the  worms,  going  through  the  whole  process, 
and  giving  the  public  all  the  information  I  can,  thereby 
enabling  those  who  desire  so  to  do,  to  go  into  the  busi- 
ness with  safety.  The  first  feeding  will  be  given  in 
one  of  our  halls  at  San  Jose*,  and  will  begin  the  15th 
of  May  next.  It  will  take  six  weeks  to  go  through 
the  whole  process.  The  second  feeding  will  be  done 
at  Sacramento  on  a  larger  scale,  and  will  be  com- 
menced in  Agricultural  Hall  on  the  10th  of  July  next. 
So  you  will  perceive  that,  in  this  way,  all  those  who 
wish  to  study  and  learn  the  subject,  will  have  opportu- 
nities of  so  doing. 

Another  important  point  which  your  readers  will  un- 
doubtedly be  pleased  to  learn  is,  that  in  a  few  months 
we  will  have,  at  San  Francisco,  a  "  Pioneer  Silk  Man- 
ufactory." A  gentleman  sailed  by  the  steamer  of  the 
10th  instant  for  New  York,  to  buy  there  all  the  neces- 
sary machinery,  looms,  etc.;  and  it  is  anticipated  that 
at  our  next  Fair,  we  will  exhibit  our  first  California 
manufactured  silk.  They  will  have  several  hundred 
thousand  silk  cocoons  to  begin  with,  and  by  another 
year  we  will  be  able  to  give  them  more  work  to  do. 
Until  the  present  time  the  objection  has  been  that,  in 


102  THE   CALIFORNIA 

raising  silk  cocoons,  we  would  have  no  market  for  them ; 
but  that  objection  does  not  exist  anymore,  as  every  per- 
son can  now  see  that  we  have  a  market  at  home.  Tak- 
ing all  these  things  combined,  we  may  consider  the 
culture  of  silk  established  all  over  the  State,  because 
it  requires  but  a  comparatively  small  capital  to  go  into 
the  business.  It  is  a  business  that  can  be  undertaken 
by  any  one.  No  farm  onght  to  have  less  than  five,, 
ten,  or  more  acres  planted  to  mulberry  trees.  The 
building  needed  to  raise  the  worms  will  be  an  excellent 
farm  building,  to  be  used  for  storing  anything  during 
the  fall,  winter  and  spring,  as  the  worms  need  it  only 
in  June. 

As  I  have  already  stated,  the  culture  of  silk  is 
the  only  business  in  which  we  do  not  fear  competition, 
and  the  more  we  can  engage  in  it  the  better,  as  our 
market  for  the  article  is  the  whole  wide  world.  As 
the  business  is  so  well  adapted  to  our  State,  it  cannot 
remain  any  longer  a  secret.  Every  one  must  become 
acquainted  with  it,  and  I  consider  it  a  duty  to  tell  and 
show  all  we  know  about  it.  I  think  it  is  the  duty  of  all 
who  become  acquainted  with  it  to  teach  it  to  their 
neighbors,  as,  in  doing  so,  everybody,  in  a  few  years, 
will  become  familiar  with  a  pleasant  and  enriching  pur- 
suit. One  merit  of  it  is,  that  it  can  be  done  by  ladies, 
and  young  and  aged  persons.  In  France  it  is  a  part 
of  the  education  of  young  ladies.  They  each  receive 
a  small  lot  of  silkworms  and  are  required  to  tend  and 
feed  them,  thus  learning  what  may  become  very  use- 
ful to  them  in  after  life.  I  hope  that  we  will  soon  be 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  103 

able  to  return  the  seven  million  dollars  sent  out  for  the 
purpose  of  importing  silk.  L.  PREVOST. 


*   • 

[Stockton  Independent,  August  31, 1866.] 
SILKWORMS,  COCOONS  AND  SILK. 

Mr.  Prevost,  of  San  Jose,  the  pioneer  introducer  of 
silkworms  into  California,  expects  to  attend  our  District 
Fair,  as  the  following  letter  received  by  Dr.  Hofden, 
President  of  the  San  Joaquin  Valley  District  Agricul- 
tural Society,  from  that  gentleman,  shows. 

"  SAN  JOSE,  August  29, 1866. 
Dr.  E.  S.  Holden,  Stockton. 

DEAR  SIR  :  I  was  just  about  to  write  to  you  when 
yours  of  the  21st  instant  was  handed  to  me,  with  a 
complimentary  ticket,  for  which  I  thank  you.  It  was, 
and  is  my  positive  intention  to  attend  your  Fair ;  and 
I  hope  to  have  a  good  place  selected  for  me — one  that 
will  correspond  with  the  importance  of  what  I  propose 
to  exhibit.  I  will  have  a  good  lot  of  my  silk  cocoons ; 
also  some  from  other  persons,  raised  in  different  por- 
tions of  our  silk  State.  I 'will  likewise  have  reeled 
silk,  silkworms,  and  probably  bring  the  first  piece  of  silk 
cloth  made  in  California.  I  will,  at  the  Fair,  give  all 
the  information  that  may  be  needed  about  mulberry 


104  THE   CALIFORNIA 

trees,  silk,  etc.     I  will  be  at  Sacramento,  and  perhaps 
will  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting  you  there. 
Yours  truly, 

L.  PREVOST." 


[From  the  Stockton  Independent,  November  6, 1866.] 
SILK  CULTURE. 

Those  who  contemplate  planting  mulberry  trees  and 
the  propagation  of  silkworms,  in  San  Joaquin  county, 
will  find  the  following  letter,  written  at  San  Jose*,  on 
the  3d  instant,  by  L.  Prevost,  interesting. 

Editors  Independent : — Since  I  returned  from  the 
Fair  in  Stockton,  I  have  been  confined  to  bed  quite 
sick  ;  but  I  am  getting  better  every  day,  although  I 
am  still  very  weak.  After  some  work  on  the  part  of 
the  citizens  here,  and  of  General  Naglee  particularly, 
we  have  succeeded  in  getting  the  pioneer  silk  factory  lo- 
cated here.  We  have  given  those  engaged  in  the 
enterprise,  twenty-five  acres  of  land  close  to  the  city, 
and  in  a  fine  healthy  location.  I  have  discovered  that 
a  great  number  of  persons  from  San  Francisco  have 
been  visiting  the  parties  preparing  to  manufacture  silk, 
and  asking  them  what  price  they  will  pay  for  cocoons  ; 
and  not  having  consulted  the  present  prices,  they  have 
put  the  price  too  low.  I  think  I  can  be  of  some  service 
to  all  those  who  intend  to  go  into  the  culture  of  silk, 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  105 

in  giving  them  the  regular  prices,  which  I  translate 
from  Le  Moniteur,  (silk  monitor)  published  in  Lyons, 
France.  That  paper  is  considered  the  standard  among 
silk  raisers.  It  contains  correspondence  and  transla- 
tions, regarding  silk,  from  all  parts  of  the  globe. 
From  its  columns  I  translate  the  price  of  cocoons,  as 
follows : 

POUNDS.  PER   POUND. 


3,000   

$2  40 

"     Konka 

2  000 

1  30 

u         a 

2  000   

I  40 

n           a 

..42,000   . 

1  50 

"  Acoulis 2,000   1  50 

"  Caucassus 4,000   1  30 

"  Andrianople 2,000   2  50 

"  Demirdech 2,000   2  40 

"  «          1,000   2  60 

"  Greece  (yellow) 1,800  240 

"          "  "         3,000   2  30 

Receiving  two  of  the  best  papers  printed  on  silk 
culture,  I  consider  it  is  my  duty  just  now  to  translate, 
from  time  to  time,  all  the  principal  articles  for  the  ben- 
efit of  those  engaged  in  the  silk  business,  and  to  keep 
them  posted  about  anything  of  interest,  and  particu- 
larly about  the  prices.  Silk  is  different  from  many 
other  articles.  The  market  for  silk  is  the  whole  world, 
and  varies  but  very  little  in  one  country  from  another.  It 
sells  always  according  to  quality.  Our  climate  is  so 
very  favorable  to  its  culture,  that  I  have  no  doubt  but 
in  time,  we  will  all  be  so  well  acquainted  with  it  that 
we  will  raise  a  quality  for  which  we  will  obtain  the 
highest  prices.  As  soon  as  it  is  known  abroad  that 


106  THE    CALIFORNIA 

California  produces  cocoons  in  quantity,  silk  agents  will 
visit  our  State,  as  they  do  every  other  silk-producing 
part  of  the  world,  and  buy  them  up.  In  the  Califor- 
nia Silk  Manual,  that  I  am  preparing,  I  will  put  all 
my  experience,  of  six  years  raising  in  this  county,  in 
its  columns,  and  do  my  best  to  assist  every  one  in  raising 
silk  of  the  best  quality. 


[From  the  Contra  Costa  Times  of  November  18,  1865.] 
THE  SILK  CULTURE  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

When  our  State  is  prepared  to  fully  honor  her  great- 
est benefactors  in  accordance  with  their  deserts,  and 
the  value  of  the  benefits  they  have  conferred  can  be 
fairly  estimated,  none,  we  think,  will  have  precedence  of 
Prevost,  the  pioneer  silk  culturist.  We  have  before  re- 
ferred to  his  labors,  which  have  so  indisputably  demon- 
strated the  superior  advantages  which  our  climate  offers 
for  the  prosecution  of  this  branch  of  industry,  but  need 
not  apologize  for  again  urging  the  matter  upon  the  atten- 
tion of  our  readers,  many  of  whom  are  favorably  situated 
to  profit  by  the  experience  which  Mr.  Prevost  has 
gained,  and  which  he  is  anxious  to  impart  to  all  who 
will  aid  in  extending  this  culture,  which  those  most 
familiar  with  the  subject  are  confident  will  be  developed 
to  rank  with  the  greatest  industrial  interests  of  the 
State,  and  eventually  place  California  first  among  the 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  107 

silk-producing  countries,  as  she  now  is  among  the  gold- 
producing. 

Familiar  with  the  silk  culture  in  Europe,  and  a  prac- 
tical horticulturist,  Mr.  Prevost  was  early  satisfied  that 
ihe  climate  of  this,  his  adopted  State  and  home,  was 
favorable  to  silk  growing,  and  having  tested  the  problem 
of  its  capacity  to  furnish  food  for  the  worms  in  the 
thrifty  growth  of  the  mulberry,  he  started  his  plantations 
and  sent  abroad  for  silkworm  eggs,  none  of  which,  for 
several  years,  though  obtained  from  various  quarters  of 
the  globe,  produced  any  worms.  From  a  lot  received 
in  1860,  however,  he  succeeded  in  hatching  and  raising 
a  small  number,  by  which  he  obtained  his  first  cocoons, 
samples  of  which,  sent  to  Europe,  attracted  attention  on 
account  of  their  superior  quality,  due  to  the  peculiarity 
of  our  climate,  the  advantages  of  which,  so  far  as  the 
health  of  the  worms  and  certainty  of  crop,  and  quality 
of  silk  would  be  concerned,  did  not  fail  of  appreciation 
by  those  largely  interested  in  the  silk  business  there, 
where  it  was  seriously  threatened  by  disease  in  the 
family  of  silkworms,  inevitably  incident  to  all  climates 
subject  to  rains  during  what  is  termed  the  "  feeding 
season."  But  the  economy  of  labor,  which  the  absence 
of  rains  during  this  season  enables  the  culturist  to  effect 
here,  was  not  realized  by  them,  and  has  only  been  fully 
demonstrated  by  the  experience  of  Mr.  Prevost,  which 
may  be  thus  summed  up.  The  conditions  of  our  climate 
are  favorable  to  the  growth  of  the  white  mulberry  (the 
best  silk  food) .  It  insures  healthy  worms  ;  certainty  of 
crop,  both  of  silk  and  worms  ;  silk  of  superior  and  even 


108  THE   CALIFORNIA 

quality,  and  a  saving  of  three  fourths  of  the  labor 
required  in  other  countries  ;  and  when  these  advantages 
are  considered,  in  connection  with  the  fact  of  the  unlim- 
ited market  for  the  product  and  the  trifling  cost  of  ship- 
ment, in  comparison  with  its  value,  to  any  part  of 
the  globe,  it  is  hardly  possible  to  overestimate  the 
benefit  which  the  State  is  destined  to  realize  from  the 
extension  of  the  culture  which  Mr.  Prevost  has  so  per- 
severingly  labored  to  introduce  and  perfect. 

Mr.  Prevost  might  rest  easy  with  the  "  good  thing  " 
he  has  secured  in  European  orders  for  silk  eggs,  the 
monopoly  of  which  he  might  enjoy  for  years,  at  prices 
almost  equal  to  their  weight  in  gold  ;  but,  with  the  spirit 
of  a  real  benefactor,  he  desires  that  his  fellow-citizens 
shall  know  and  share  the  advantages  which  their  climate 
offers  for  the  prosecution  of  this  interesting  and"  profitable 
branch  of  industry,  and  he  is  ever  ready  to  impart  infor- 
mation of  value  to  those  who  may  desire  it ;  and,  as  will  be 
seen  by  the  letter  quoted  below,  he  will  also  furnish  gra- 
tuitously the  eggs  required  to  start  with'  to  all  who  will, 
for  a  number  of  years  to  come,  engage  in  the  business, 
and  provide  trees  for  feeding  the  worms.  And  this 
offer,  if  reckoned  only  at  the  money  value  of  the  eggs, 
is  larger  than  any  of  the  liberal  premiums  which  the 
State  has  provided  for  the  encouragement  of  new 
branches  of  industry. 

The  following  is  the  letter  referred  to,  written  in  re- 
sponse to  inquiries  relating  to  the  mode  of  propagating 
the  mulberry,  with  a  view  to  preparing  a  plantation,  or 
orchard ;  but  as  we  presume  the  readers  of  the  "  Ga- 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  109 

zette"  are,  many  of  them,  equally  interested  with  our- 
selves in  whatever  relates  to  this  matter,  we  quote  it  for 
their  benefit. 

CHAS.  B.  PORTER,  ESQ., 

DEAR  SIR  :  On  the  19th  of  October  I  wrote  you  a 
few  lines  in  great  haste,  stating  that  I  had  not  time  then 
to  answer  your  letter ;  but  I  will  try  to  do  it  now,  and 
be  as  brief  as  possible. 

In  regard  to  mulberry  trees,  they  have  to  be  trans- 
planted the  same  way  and  at  the  same  season  as  fruit 
trees,  that  is  to  say,  as  early  as  possible  after  the  first 
good  rain.  They  grow  almost  anywhere,  but  prefer  a 
light,  deep,  and  rich  soil.  The  seed  can  be  sown  during 
the  winter  in  localities  where  there  is  no  frost ;  otherwise 
sow  it  early  in  the  spring.  I  would  give  the  preference 
to  cuttings,  as  they  grow  faster  than  from  seed ;  they 
are  as  easy  of  propagation  as  any  other  tree  cuttings ; 
they  also  need  to  have  sufficient  moisture  to  make  them 
grow  well,  and  be  protected,  if  possible,  against  the  very 
hot  sun,  till  they  have  good  roots.  If  any  of  your 
friends  wish  some  good  fresh  seeds,  they  will  find  them 
with  Messrs.  Francois  &  Co.,  seed  store,  605  Sansome 
street,  San  Francisco,  who  are  importing  them.  I  have 
trees,  but  not  many,  most  of  them  being  engaged.  As 
soon  as  the  plants  have  good  roots,  either  from  seed  or 
cuttings,  they  can  be  transplanted  during  the  winter. 
The  morus  alba  is  the  very  best  for  silk  worms,  but  it  is 
good  to  have  some  multicaulis,  to  feed  the  worms  when 
young,  as  it  is  tender ;  and  if  the  trees  are  in  a  good 


110  THE   CALIFORNIA 

soil  and  well  cared  for,  you  can  begin  to  feed  from  them 
the  third  year ;  after  which  you  will  have  more  food 
every  year,  and  consequently  more  silk  worms.  The 
reason  that  the  preference  is  given  to  the  morus  alba 
everywhere,  where  silk  is  cultivated  4argely,  is  because 
it  contains  more  substantial  food  and  produces  a  silk  of 
better  quality.  So  to  give  you  an  idea  of  it,  I  enclose 
you  a  small  sample  of  what  is  obtained  from  its  bark ;  it. 
is  almost  equal  to  floss  silk,  and  can  be  spun  the  same 
way.  I  believe  this  answers  the  questions  in  your  let- 
ter, but  for  the  benefit  of  your  readers  allow  me  to  add 
a  few  lines. 

The  fact  that  California  is  the  best  spot  on  the  globe 
to  raise  silk  profitably,  I  have  fully  demonstrated  by  my 
five  years'  experience  ;  and  also  the  fact  that  the  supe- 
riority of  our  climate  for  the  silk  culture  enabled  me  so 
to  arrange  the  work  that  one  man  can  do  as  much 
as  eight  formerly  did,  cannot  be  doubted,  as  I  have  my- 
self, without  help,  raised  over  one  hundred  thousand 
silk  cocoons.  This  is  the  work  of  eight  persons  in 
France  or  Italy.  I  am  now  very  glad  to  see  that  the 
importance  of  this  branch  of  industry  begins  to  be  un- 
derstood, as  the  highest  prizes  have  been  awarded  to  me, 
in  the  shape  of  gold  medals,  etc.  The  culture  of  the  silk- 
worm is  bound  to  be  more  beneficial  and  more  important 
to  California  than  all  the  others  together,  taking  the 
mines  in,  because  those  engaging  in  it  will  not  be  exposed 
to  deception ;  and  the  regularity  of  our  fine,  dry  sum- 
mers, without  rain,  storm,  or  electricity,  insures  regular 
good  crops.  I  have  a  thousand  things  to  tell  about  the 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  Ill 

advantages  of  silk  culture  in  California,  if  I  had  time  to 
write,  but  the  impulse  is  given,  and  as  I  am  posted  in 
the  progress  and  what  is  going  on  about  silk  culture  in 
California,  I  am  able  to  say  with  assurance  that  expe- 
rienced silk  cultivators  will  come  next  season  from 
France,  to  raise  it  here  on  a  very  large  scale.  I  was 
visited  by  the  representatives  of  two  of  the  largest  silk 
houses  in  Europe  on  their  returning  from  China,  where 
they  purchased  hundreds  of  millions  of  silkworms'  eggs. 
Being  practical  silk  growers  and  manufacturers,  they 
understood  very  well  the  superiority  of  our  climate,  and 
were  extremely  pleased  with  what  I  have  been  able 
to  show  and  tell  them,  as  they  can  appreciate  the  truth 
of  it.  We  must  do  all  we  can  to  encourage  everybody 
to  raise  silk,  because  this  article  is  different  from  many 
other  products  ;  it  cannot  be  overdone.  We  do  not  fear 
any  opposition,  for  if  it  were  possible  that  by  some 
miracle  the  whole  State  should  be  covered  next  year 
with  full  grown  mulberry  trees,  and  most  of  her  inhabit- 
ants engaged  in  raising  silk,  you  can  not  prove  to  me 
that  it  would  lower  the  price  on  silk  of  two  cents  per 
pound,  as  we  have  the  whole  world  for  a  market.  This 
article,  on  the  contrary,  is  bound  to  rise;  it  advanced 
last  season  twenty-five  per  cent.,  on  account  of  the 
disease  in  silkworms  in  Europe,  in  consequence  of  their 
wet  summers.  This  is  the  reason  they  are  obliged  to 
obtain  eggs  from  countries  where  the  worms  are  not  dis- 
eased, so  as  to  keep  up  the  stock  and  obtain  their  silk 
crops. 

I  have  sold  all  my  eggs  for  Europe,  and  they  are 


112  THE    CALIFORNIA 

engaged  by  the  same  house  for  the  coming  years ;  but 
I  reserve  what  I  want,  and  to  encourage  our  people  to 
propagate  and  plant  as  many  mulberry  trees  as  they 
can,  I  will  furnish  every  one  in  our  State  their  first 
silkworm  eggs  gratis,  for  several  years  to  come,  and 
they  will  only  have  to  let  me  know  what  amount  of 
food  they  have,  to  guide  me  in  sending  their  eggs. 

I  shall  publish  my  California  Silk  Culture,  and  it 
is  so  simple  that  every  one  will  be  able  to  follow  it.  I 
think,  too,  that  it  may  be  a  good  plan  for  me  to  write 
letters  to  France,  to  let  the  facts  about  silk  culture  in 
our  State  become  as  widely  known  there  as  possible,  so 
that  silk  growers  may  see  the  inducement  to  come 
here  and  prosecute  the  business.  This  would  be  a 
great  benefit  to  the  State,  as  the  quantity  of  silk  that 
can  be  raised  in  California  is  immense,  and  this  would 
bring  millions  to  the  State,  instead  of  sending  our 
money  abroad  to  import  the  article.  I  am  for  home 
industry,  and  consequently,  against  importing.  I  have 
made  this  my  home  forever,  and  I  shall  die  satisfied, 
if  I  can  live  long  enough  to  see  that  I  have  been  of 
some  help  for  her  prosperity  ;  my  time  and  energy  will 
always  be  devoted  to  this  end. 

In  order  that  every  one  will  be  enabled  to  raise 
their  own  mulberry  trees,  I  have  published  the  mode  of 
culture,  either  from  seed  or  cuttings,  in  the  California 
Farmer,  some  two  years  ago,  and  at  the  same  time  in 
the  French  paper.  But  if  any  point  pertaining  to  that 
important  branch  of  industry,  that  you  may  think  use- 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  113 

ful   to   the   public,  remains  unexplained,  I   shall  feel 
great  pleasure  in  answering  jour  interrogatories. 

Yours,  etc. 

L.  PREVOST. 


[From  the  San  Jose  Mercury,  April  26,  1866.  ] 
SILK  CULTURE. 

Editor  Mercury  : 

DEAR  SIR  :  In  your  last  issue  you  have  an  article 
from  the  daily  Union  of  Sacramento,  about  silk  cul- 
ture, stating  that  I  am  going,  this  summer,  to  establish 
a  cocoonery  or  feeding  of  the  worms  before  the  public 
in  the  agricultural  hall  there. 

This  is  true ;  but  it  is  very  important  to  all  those 
residing  nearer  to  San  Josd  than  Sacramento,  to  know 
that  I  will  give  a  public  exhibition  of  the  process  of  silk 
culture  here  first,  and  go  to  Sacramento  after.  These 
are  my  arrangements,  and  what  I  have  agreed  to  do. 

1st.  I  will  write  first  the  "  California  Silk  Manual," 
in  which  I  will  give  the  culture,  management,  and 
propagation  by  seed  and  cuttings  of  the  mulberry  tree ; 
and  afterwards  the  California  silk  culture,  or  manage- 
ment of  the  worms,  according  to  my  simplified  method 
for  our  fine. climate. 

2d.  I  will  do  two  public  feedings  of  the  worms,  the 
first  at  San  Jose,  at  our  City  Hall,  under  the  general 
supervision  of  our  Santa  Clara  Valley  Agricultural  So- 


114  THE    CALIFORNIA 

ciety,  commencing  on  the  fifteenth  of  May  next;  and 
the  second  at  Sacramento  in  the  Agricultural  Hall, 
under  the  general  supervision  of  the  State  Board  of 
Agriculture,  commencing  the  tenth  of  July  next.  It 
will  take  six  weeks  at  each  place  to  go  through  the 
whole  process.  Thus  all  those  in  the  State  that  wish 
to  learn  how  to  raise  silk,  will  have  an  opportunity. 
Nothing  will  be  neglected  on  my  part  towards  instruct- 
ing them  in  all  I  know  about  the  business  so  as  to  ena- 
ble them  to  conduct  it  successfully. 

I  wish  to  impart  to  your  numerous  readers  a  few 
very  important  facts  that  have  occurred  since  my  last 
letters  published  about  silk  culture. 

1st.  I  have  been  gone  some  seven  weeks  to  Sacra- 
mento, and  I  have  the  pleasure  to  state  that  "An  Act 
encouraging  Silk  Culture  in  California,"  has  been 
passed,  and  is  in  such  shape,  that  it  is  an  encouragement 
for  all  those  who  will  engage  in  that  business  for  the 
next  four  years.  This  is  the  best  act  for  the  interests 
of  the  State,  passed  in  our  last  Legislature,  because 
our  climate  and  soil  is  so  superiorly  adapted  for  silk 
culture,  that  it  will  bring  a  large  emigration  to  this 
State. 

2d.  Another  important  fact  is,  that  within  three 
months,  we  will  have  at  San  Francisco  our  California 
Pioneer  Silk  Manufactory.  My  friend,  Mr.  New- 
mann,  has  sailed  by  the  steamer  of  the  tenth  inst.  for 
New  York,  to  buy  there  all  the  necessary  machinery, 
looms,  etc.  He  and  his  brother,  who  is  here  also,  have 
already  been  in  that  business  ten  years.  I  expect  that 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  115 

at  our  next  Fairs,  this  fall,  we  will  be  able  to  show  Cal- 
ifornia silk  of  California  manufacture.  This  will  insure 
a  market  at  home  for  all  the  silk  cocoons  we  can  raise. 

3d.  I  am  receiving,  every  day,  letters  on  questions 
about  silk,  from  all  parts  of  the  State.  This  shows 
that  our  people  begin  to  feel  an  interest  in  that  rich 
branch  of  industry ;  and  from  these  letters  I  see  that 
we  have  in  the  State  all  the  men  necessary  to  carry  it 
forward  in  all  its  branches.  And  in  my  letters  from 
Europe  I  see  that  silk  growers,  silk  spinners,  and  silk 
manufacturers  are  preparing  to  come  to  this  State. 

In  my  previous  letters  on  silk,  I  have  fully  demon- 
strated the  superiority  of  our  climate,  and  our  advan- 
tages over  the  other  silk  countries. 

By  the  above  facts  it  is  very  easy  to  see  that  the 
silk  culture  will  be  established  all  over  the  State 
shortly.  Already  plantations  have  been  made  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  State,  and  particularly  last  season ; 
but  we  can  anticipate  that  the  next "  season  hundreds 
will  go  into  it,  because  they  will  know  how  to  do  it ; 
and  also  know  that  they  are  encouraged  by  the  State. 
Hence,  within  a  short  time  we  will  be  able  to  retain 
among  us  the  seven  millions  of  dollars  sent  out  annu- 
ally for  the  importation  of  silk  only. 

As  the  time  is  short  between  now  and  the  time  I  am 
to  engage  in  the  enterprise  publicly  at  San  Josd,  all 
the  papers  in  our  section  of  country  that  take  any 
interest  in  the  public  welfare  are  earnestly  requested 
to  copy,  in  order  that  all  may  be  properly  notified  of 
the  fact.  As  it  is  a  work  for  ladies,  they  can  come 


116  THE   CALIFORNIA 

when  it  is  impossible  for  their  husbands  to  come.  Silk 
culture  can  be  undertaken  by  every  one,  poor  or  rich  ; 
and  is  a  business  in  which  we  do  not  fear  competition. 
On  the  contrary,  we  need  it,  and  the  more  who  engage 
in  it  the  better.  It  will  certainly  bring  a  large  emi- 
gration to  this  country.  Yours  truly, 

L.  PREVOST. 
SAN  JOSE,  April  2-4, 1866. 


[San  Jose  Mercury,  May  10,  1866.] 
SILK  CULTURE— CHANGE  OF  PROGRAMME. 

Editor  Mercury:  A  few  days  after  I  started  for 
Sacramento,  my  wife  sold  some  silkworms'  eggs  to  a 
party  from  Santa  Barbara,  and  left  my  two  boxes  of 
eggs  in  my  office,  when  they  have  to  be  kept  constantly 
in  the  cellar.  On  my  return  I  put  them  in  the  cellar, 
but  they  were  prepared  to  hatch,  having  been  so  long 
a  time  under  the  influence  of  hatching  heat ;  and  the 
other  day,  on  going  to  visit  them,  I  found  them  mostly 
hatched  out,  and  the  balance  hatching.  I  have  between 
eight  hundred  thousand  and  a  million  ;  and  as,  in  and 
about  San  Jose,  there  is  hardly  food  for  one  hundred 
thousand,  at  present,  I  am  obliged  to  go  to  Sacra- 
mento, where  I  have  food  for  them.  Then  it  will  be 
impossible  for  me  to  give  a  public  feeding  at  San  Jose, 
as  anticipated,  this  season,  and  I  shall  have  to  defer  it 
until  next.  I  will  leave  some  worms  with  my  wife,  in 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  117 

case  that  somebody  may  wish  to  see  them.  I  will  have 
a  grand  exhibition  of  silk  and  silk  cocoons  at  our  Santa 
Clara  Valley  Fair,  in  September,  and  will  give  there 
all  the  information  needed  on  that  important  subject.  I 
will  see  that  such  an  accident  does  not  occur  again.  It 
never  has  occurred  before  during  the  five  years  that  I 
have  been  raising  them. 

Yours,  respectfully, 

L.  PREVOST. 
SAN  JOSE  May  6, 1866. 


[Sacramento  Daily  Union,  August  25, 1866.] 
SILK  FACTORY  AND  SILK  RAISING. 

We  are  informed  by  L.  Prevost,  of  San  Jose,  who 
is  so  deeply  interested  in  the  production  of  silk,  that 
his  friend  Joseph  Newman  has  recently  returned  from 
the  East,  with  a  complete  set  of  machinery,  looms,  etc., 
to  take  the  silk  from  the  cocoon  and  manufacture  it  in 
all  forms  and  styles.  The  machinery  is  stated  to  be  of 
the  latest  and  most  improved  kind,  and  he  intends  to 
produce  from  it  the  first  piece  of  silk  manufactured  for 
exhibition  at  the  State  Fair.  On  visiting  the  principal 
silk  factories  in  the  East,  Newman  observed  that  some 
of  the  manufacturers  employed  as  many  as  three  thou- 
sand hands.  As  we  have  the  best  country  in  the 
world  for  the  raising  of  silk,  Prevost  is  in  hopes  that  in 
a  short  time  we  will  raise  enough  of  it  to  employ  as 


118  THE   CALIFORNIA 

many  or  more  hands  in  the  manufacture  of  our  own 
product.  It  can  easily  be  done.  A  large  number  of 
persons  are  interesting  themselves,  in  good  earnest,  hi 
the  raising  of  silk,  and  the  next  season  will  witness  a 
large  development  of  this  business,  especially  now  that 
we  have  in  California  a  silk  factory,  and  a  home  market 
for  all  the  cocoons  which  can  be  produced.  In  this 
connection  it  is  all. important  that  proper  soil  is  selected 
for  the  cultivation  of  the  mulberry.  On  this  subject, 
Prevost  remarks,  in  a  communication  to  the  UNION  : 

"  The  mulberry  will  grow  most  anywhere  in  Califor- 
nia, but  has  a  decided  preference  for  a  rich,  deep,  light, 
loamy  soil.  Such  soil  will  produce  as  much  food  from 
one  acre  as  you  would  get  from  three  or  four  acres  of 
other  soil.  Then  calculate  the  great  economy  of  work, 
etc.,  and  the  great  profit.  We  have  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands acres  of  such  soil  in  all  our  valleys  in  California. 
I  know  plenty  of  it  in  our  fine  valley  of  San  Jose,  but 
I  have  remarked  it  particularly  and  more  generally  in 
your  Sacramento  valley.  The  quantity  of  silk  that  can 
be  raised  there  will  be  immense,  as  it  does  not  matter 
if  the  lands  are  overflowed  when  the  trees  are  once 
started. 

"  I  have  news  from  the  different  localities  in  our 
State,  where  I  have  sent  silkworms'  eggs,  and  every 
where,  where  they  had  fresh  mulberry  leaves  to  give 
the  worms,  they  have  all  succeeded. 

u  It  would  take  a  long  letter  to  enumerate  all  the 
profits  that  will  be  derived  from  the  fact  of  our  manu- 
facturing our  own  silk. 


119 

"  All  our  farmers,  who  are  on  their  own  land,  ought 
to  select  the  very  best  part  of  it  to  plant  mulberry 
trees,  as  the  raising  of  silk  can  be  done  by  their  chil- 
dren. They  will  find  that,  in  that  culture,  we  have  no 
competition  to  fear.  On  the  contrary,  the  more  en- 
gaged in  it  the  better,  as  we  have  the  whole  world  for 
our  market." 


[From  the  Sacramento  Daily  Union,  July  12, 1866.] 
THE  SILKWORMS  AT  AGRICULTURAL  HALL. 

Messrs.  Editors :  I  have  been  engaged  in  feeding 
silkworms,  and  raising  silk  in  California,  since  1860, 
and  have  never  seen  any  disease  among  my  worms  until 
this  year,  at  Sacramento,  and  I  feel  it  to  be  my  duty  to 
state  to  the  public  some  of  the  facts  connected  with  my 
effort  at  Sacramento,  and  the  reasons  of  my  trouble  and 
disease  among  the  worms. 

In  the  first  place,  they  hatched  by  an  accident,  which 
I  have  heretofore  explained,  some  two  months  before  I 
intended  to  have  them ;  but  as  I  had  agreed  to  make  a 
public  feeding  at  Sacramento,  to  assist  in  introducing 
the  business  in  the  State,  I  thought  it  best  to  undertake 
it,  even  though  I  had  some  doubts  about  its  success. 
The  worms,  hatching  as  they  did,  could  not  be  properly 
separated,  and  those  of  the  same  age  only  kept  together, 
as  should  be  the  case  ;  but  I  was  compelled  to  keep  and 
feed  all  together,  though  sojne  were  over  a  week  older 


120  THE   CALIFORNIA 

than  others.  For  this  reason  it  was  necessary  to  feed 
them  all  the  time  they  were  molting,  which  is  very 
detrimental  to  the  successful  molting  and  health  of  the 
worm. 

Again,  young  worms  require  the  very  tender  and 
young  leaves,  and  I  found  it  impossible  to  obtain  such 
in  Sacramento  ;  most  of  the  trees  there  being  of  some 
age ;  and  standing  in  or  near  the  streets,  the  leaves 
were  covered  with  dust,  and  were  generally  only  fit  to 
feed  worms  when  nearly  grown.  After  the  food  was 
exhausted  in  Sacramento,  I  had  to  ship  leaves  from 
Marysville,  Nicolaus,  Lincoln,  and  other  places,  and  it 
frequently  happened  that  they  did  not  come  when 
expected  and  when  I  needed  them ;  and  a  number  of 
times  they  came  heated  and  soured,  and  in  this  condi- 
tion they  were  fed  to  the  worms.  This,  of  itself,  was 
more  than  sufficient  to  cause  them  all  to  be  diseased. 
I  felt  most  certain  it  would  do  so,  but  I  was  compelled 
to  feed  them — aa  I  could  get  no  other — and  I  was  only 
surprised  that  they  kept  in  so  good  condition  until  the 
17th  of  June,  when  we  could  get  no  more  mulberry 
leaves,  and  were  obliged  to  feed  them  all  on  the  Osage 
orange. 

From  that  time  the  disease  spread  rapidly,  and  while 
I  am  satisfied  it  was  the  heated  food  that  originated  the 
disease,  I  am  also  satisfied  that  this  change  of  food, 
from  the  mulberry  to  the  orange,  caused  it  to  spread 
with  greater  violence,  and  become  more  fatal.  Taking 
all  the  circumstances  together,  my  greatest  wonder  is, 
that  the  worms  made  any  cocoons  at  all.  In  most  any 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  121 

other  climate  than  that  of  California,  instead  of  fifteen 
thousand  cocoons,  they  would  not  have  made  any. 

My  ill  success  at  Agricultural  Hall  should  in  no 
manner  discourage  any  one  from  engaging  in  the  busi- 
ness of  silk  culture,  as  I  am  well  satisfied  that  all  dis- 
ease can  be  avoided,  and  the  business  made  a  success 
in  Sacramento  and  many  other  parts  of  the  State,  as 
well  as  at  San  Jose,  where  all  my  trials  have  been  suc- 
cessful. But  to  be  successful  anywhere,  fresh  leaves 
right  from  the  mulberry  tree,  and  plenty  of  them,  are 
absolutely  necessary.  And  here  I  am  very  happy  to 
be  able  to  prove  my  opinion  in  this  matter  correct,  by  a 
very  opportune  example.  I  gave,  among  others  who 
applied  for  them  when  I  first  came  to  Sacramento,  to 
Wilson  Flint,  some  worms,  and  on  the  twenty-eighth 
day  of  June,  when  Secretary  Hoag  and  myself  visited 
Flint,  I  was  very  much  pleased  to  find  that  he  had  had 
excellent  success  with  them,  there  being  no  disease 
among  them,  and  nearly  all  had  made  very  large  and 
good  cocoons.  Others,  also,  have  been  equally  success- 
ful, and  in  every  case  success  has  attended  all  who  had 
plenty  of  fresh  leaves  to  feed  them. 

I  was  not  able  in  Sacramento  to  follow  the  California 
system  of  feeding.  My  mode  of  feeding  is  with 
branches  containing  the  leaves,  so  placed  as  to  cause 
the  worms  to  climb  upon  them  to  get  the  food^  The 
advantages  of  this  system  are :  first,  to  save  labor ; 
second,  the  leaves  keep  fresh  much  longer  ;  and,  third, 
to  give  the  worms  plenty  of  fresh  air. 

Before  closing  this  letter,  I  wish  to  return  thanks  to 


122  THE   CALIFORNIA 

the  citizens  of  Sacramento,  generally,  for  the  interest 
they  manifested  in  the  enterprise,  and  particularly  to 
those  who  were  so  kind  as  to  give  the  free  use  of  all  the 
mulberry  leaves  they  had.  I  am  also  under  obligations 
to  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture  for  the  use  of  the 

hall,  and  other  kindnesses  extended. 

L.  PREVOST. 


[From  the  Tc-ham.i  Observer,  January  3, 1866.] 
SILK. 

We  invite  the  special  attention  of  our  readers  to  the 
very  interesting  letter  on  silk,  contributed  by  L.  Prevost, 
Esq.,  of  San  Jose,  one  of  California's  pioneer  farmers. 
What  he  says  can  be  depended  upon  as  the  results  of 
long  experience  in  this  State,  and  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  the  climate  and  productions  of  this  and  other  coun- 
tries. We  take  pleasure  in  saying,  for  his  information, 
that  there  arc  thousands  of  acres  in  Tehama  County  of 
such  land  as  he  deems  best  adapted  to  the  growth  of 
the  mulberry — in  large  tracts  near  the  Sacramento 
River,  and  in  smaller  parcels  along  the  many  creeks. 
If  Mr.  Prevost,  or  Col.  Warren,  will  have  the  politeness 
to  forward  to  us  the  numbers  of  the  California  Farmer 
containing  the  several  articles  alluded  to  in  the  letter, 
we  shall  be  pleased  to  acknowledge  the  favor,  and  re- 
publish  the  articles  for  the  advantage  of  our  readers. 
If  any  of  our  readers  wish  to  offer  any  remarks  on  this 
important  subject,  or  on  any  other  question — such  as 
wool,  cotton,  flax,  tobacco,  fruit — of  general  interest, 
we  will  be  most  happy  to  hear  them. 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  123 

[From  the  Tehama  Observer,  January  3, 1866.] 

L.  PKEVOST  ON  SILK  CULTURE. 

SAN  JOSE,  January  20th,  1866. 
Editor  Tehama  Observer, 

DEAR  SIR:  Please  accept  my  thanks  for  having 
sent  me  the  Observer,  containing  an  article  on  "  Silk 
Culture."  I  wish  that  all  editors  who  publish  anything 
on  the  subject  would  do  the  same. 

My  five  years  raising  silk  here  have  demonstrated 
beyond  any  doubt  that  California  is  the  best  spot  on 
the  globe  for  raising  silk.  In  one  of  my  letters  to  the 
Farmer,  lately,  in  -enumerating  the  advantages  that 
we  have  here  over  France  and  Italy,  I  have  fully 
established  that  we  can  produce  silk  here  for  the  half 
of  the  cost  there ;  and  we  will  have  the  highest  price 
of  the  market,  our  silk  being  of  first  quality — as  I  can 
prove  by  certificates  from  the  highest  scientific  silk 
societies  in  Europe,  to  which  I  sent  samples  of  silk 
cocoons  and  reeled  silk  to  be  tested. 

Here,  we  have  nothing  to  disturb  the  worms.  Our 
climate  is  so  very  superior,  that  I  was  enabled  to  sim- 
plify the  culture  considerably.  I  made  a  new  system, 
adapted  to  the  California  climate,  by  which  one  man 
can  take  care  of  and  raise  as  many  silkworms  as  eight 
men  would  in  France  or  Italy  under  the  old  system, 
that  the  moisture  of  the  climate  obliges  them  to  follow. 

A  very  remarkable  fact  is  that  our  climate,  which 
is  so  favorable  to  the  silkworms,  is  also  extremely 


124  THE   CALIFORNIA 

favorable  to  the  growth  of  the  mulberry  trees\  with 
which  we  feed  them.  It  thrives  here  in  California  every- 
where, but  prefers  a  light,  loamy,  and  deep  soil.  When 
at  Sacramento,  the  first  thing  that  attracted  my  atten- 
tion was  that  very  best  quality  of  soil  there ;  and  after 
I  had  been  shown  some  mulberry  trees  growing  there,  I 
found  that  I  was  not  mistaken.  In  measuring  the  shoots 
of  one  year's  growth,  most  of  them  were  from  ten  to 
twelve  feet  long,  and  some  as  long  as  fifteen  feet.  Who 
can  beat  this  ?  It  surpasses  everything  ever  seen 
before.  I  am  told  that  there  is  any  amount  of  such 
land  in  the  Sacramento  Valley,  and  I  suppose  it  ex- 
tends up  to  your  locality,  and  perhaps  further.-  *jf ' 
would  like  very  much  to  know  it.  'Many  other  valleys 
in  California  are  probably  as  good. 

It  is  impossible  to  calculate  the  hundreds  of  millions 
of  dollars  worth  of  silk  that  we  can  raise  in  California ; 
the  silk  being  such  a  rich  product  that,  in  a  few  years, 
it  will  bring  more  to  our  State  than  all  other  products 
together ;  and  I  feel  happy  to  see  that  our  people 
begin  to  understand  it,  by  the  numerous  letters  that  I 
am  receiving  every  day  on  this  important  question. 

Mr.  Wilson  Flint  came  to  see  me  yesterday.  I 
learned  from  this  gentleman  that  he  has  already  one 
hundred  thousand  mulberry  trees  planted,  and  that 
from  cuttings  and  from  seeds  he  expects  to  have  about 
three  hundred  thousand  mulberry  trees.  He  has  made 
arrangements  to  plant  three  hundred  acres  of  his  supe- 
rior bottom  lands,  to  begin  with,  and  more  after.  He 
intends  to  have  not  only  the  largest  silk  establishment 
in  California,  but  on  the  globe. 


125 

With  such  inducements,  we  will  soon  have  a  silk 
factory  in  California,  and  our  California  ladies  will  soon, 
I  hope,  wear  silk  raised  and  made  by  their  own  hands. 

To  enable  every  one  to  raise  mulberry  trees  for  their 
own  use,  I  published  in  the  California  Farmer ,  nearly 
two  years  ago,  the  culture  of  that  tree  by  cuttings  and 
by  seeds. 

Any  information  desired  by  any  of  your  readers  on 
this  important  industry,  I  am  ready  to  give. 

Yours,  respectfully,  L.  PREVOST. 


[From  the  Tchama  Observer,  April  28, 1866.] 
SILK    CULTURE. 

SAN  JOSE,  CaL,  April  23, 1866. 
Editor  Teliama  Observer, 

DEAR  SIR  :  I  have  before  me  a  copy  of  your  paper, 
of  the  third  of  February  last,  in  which  you  publish  the 
letter  I  wrote  you  on  "  Silk  Culture."  I  do  not  know 
if  you  have  published  anything  since  relating  to  that 
important  branch  of  industry ;  if  not,  I  consider  it  my 
duty  to  let  you  know  very  important  facts.  I  see  with 
great  pleasure,  in  your  editorial,  that  your  section  of 
country  is,  as  I  expected,  similar  to  the  soil  that  I  have 
remarked  round  Sacramento  City.  Then  you  will  soon 
see-  silk  culture  established  around  you  ;  and  I  will  feel 


126  THE   CALIFORNIA 

happy  to  have  contributed  to  the  prosperity  of  your 
valley.     Here  are  the  facts  alluded  to. 

I.  I  have  been  up  to  Sacramento  about  B 
weeks,  and  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  your  readers 
that  "  An  Act  to  encourage  Silk  Culture  in  California  " 
was  passed  at  the  late  session  of  the  Legislature,  and  is 
in  such  a  shape  that  it  is  an  encouragement  for  all  AV!IO 
will  engage  in  that  rich  industry,  and  is  operative  for 
four  years.  This  is  the  best  act  of  our  last  Legislature 
for  the  direct  interest  of  the  State. 
•  IE.  As  I  see  the  silk  culture  properly  encouraged 
by  the  State,  here  is  what  I  have  agreed  to  do,  to 
encourage  it  also  :  First,  I  will  write,  in  a  few  weeks, 
the  "  California  Silk  Manual,"  in  which  I  will  give  the 
culture,  management,  and  propagation  by  seeds  and 
cuttings  of  the  mulberry  tree  ;  and  after,  our  simplified 
California  silk  culture  or  management  of  the  worms. 

III.  I  will  do  two  public  feedings  of  the  worms  ; 
the  first  in  San  Jose*,  in  our  City  Hall,  commencing  on 
the  fifteenth  of  May  next ;  and  the  second  at  Sacra- 
mento, in  Agricultural  Hall,  commencing  on  the  tenth 
of  July  next.  It  will  take,  at  each  place,  to  go  through 
the  whole  process,  six  weeks.  This  will  give  an  oppor- 
tunity to  all  those  who  may  desire,  to  learn  how  to  raise 
silk  in  California.  Knowing  the  places  where  I  am  to 
do  it,  and  the  dates  of  commencing,  those  living  in  the 
interior,  in  any  section  of  the  country,  will  go  to  the 
place  nearest  their  residence  ;  and  if  they  are  desirous 
to  learn,  nothing  will  be  neglected  on  my  part,  to 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  127 

enable  them  to  conduct  the  business — in  showing  and 
telling  them  all  I  know  about  it. 

IV.  Another  very  important  fact  that  I  wish  to 
bring  to  the  notice  of  your  readers  is,  that  inside  of 
three  months  we  will  have  at  San  Francisco  our  Cali- 
fornia Pioneer  Silk  Manufactory.     This  shows  that  we 
will  have  at  home  a  market  for  our  silk  cocoons.   Many 
persons  have  been  telling  me  that  it  was  no  use  to  raise 
silk  cocoons,  because  we  had  no  manufactory,  and  con- 
sequently no  market  for  them  here.     This  objection 
does  not  exist  any  more,  my  friend  Mr.  Newman  hav- 
ing sailed  on  the  steamer  of  the  tenth  inst.,  for  New 
York,  where  he  will  purchase  all  the  necessary  machin- 
ery, and  it  is  anticipated  that  at  our  next  Fairs,  in  the 
fall,  we  will  be  able  to  show  the  first  piece  of  California 
silk,  and  of  California  manufacture. 

V.  I  am  receiving  every  day  a  great  many  letters 
on  questions  about  silk  from  all  parts  of  our  State. 
This  shows  that  a  great  interest  is  felt  everywhere  in 
this  important  industry.     In  the  pile  of  letters  on  the 
subject  that  came  during  the  time  I  was  at  Sacramento, 
I  see  that  we  have  among  us,  in  our  State,  all  the  men 
for  every  branch  of  this  business,  from  the  planting  of 
the  mulberry  to  finishing  the  manufactured  silk.    I  also 
see  in  my  letters  from  Europe,  that  silk  growers,  silk 
spinners,  and  silk  manufacturers  are  preparing  to  come. 
This  I  am  glad  to   see,  because  it  will  be  a  great 
benefit  to  the  State,  as  the  beauty  of  that  industry  is 
that  it  is  the  only  one  in  which  we  do  not  fear  compe- 
tition ;  on  the  contrary  we  need  it,  and  the  more  there 


128  THE   CALIFORNIA 

are  engaged  in  it  the  better.  It  is,  then,  our  interest 
to  encourage  and  help  our  neighbors  to  go  into  it.  Our 
market  for  silk  is  the  whole  world,  and  we  are  bound  to 
get  the  highest  price  for  it,  as  our  silk  is  of  first  quality ; 
and  another  great  advantage  is  that  we  can  raise  it 
here  for  half  the  cost  that  it  is  obtained  in  France  or 
Italy.  I  do  not  know  if  you  have  the  letter  in  which 
I  enumerated  our  advantages  over  the  other  countries  5 
if  not,  and  you  desire  it,  I  will  send  you  a  copy  of  it, 
and  you  and  your  readers  will  be  convinced  of  what  I 
say. 

VI.  Large  plantations  are  already  made  in  different 
parts  of  the  State.  A  good  number  of  them  were  com- 
menced last  season,  the  largest  being  that  of  Mr.  Wilson 
Flint,  of  Sacramento.  It  is  in  connection  with  Mr. 
Flint  that  I  am  doing  the  feeding  of  the  worms  at  Sacra- 
mento. 

Now,  Mr.  Editor,  reflecting  a  moment  on  the  above 
facts,  we  can  say  that  the  silk  culture  is  virtually  estate 
lishcd  all  over  the  State,  as  our  people  will  soon  know 
how  to  do  it.  It  is  my  opinion  that  there  will  bo  hun- 
dreds of  new  plantations  the  coining  season,  and  those 
who  set  them  out  will  do  well ;  because,  besides  being  a 
good  business,  they  will  get  more  of  the  premiums  offered 
by  the  State.  It  makes  me  hope  that  within  a  very 
few  years  we  will  bo  able  to  keep  with  us  the  seven  mil- 
lions of  dollars  that  we  are  now  annually  sending  out  for 
the  importation  of  silk  only.  These  are  the  wishes  with 
which  I  remain, 

Respectfully  yours,         L.  PREVOST. 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  129 

[Mercantile  Gazette,  December  18,  1866.] 
SILK  AND  SILKWORMS  IN  CALIFORNIA. 

L.  Prevost,  the  persevering  pioneer  of  silk  culture 
in  this  State,  writes  from  San  Jose  in  part  as  follows. 

We  cannot  too  much  encourage  our  friends  to  go 
into  this  branch  of  industry,  which  is  bound  to  surpass 
in  value,  for  exportation,  all  other  California  products 
taken  together.  They  can  enter  into  it  with  more  cer- 
tainty of  success  than  in  mining  operations,  because  they 
have  no  opposition  or  failure  to  fear.  The  regularity  of 
our  fine  dry  summers,  without  rain,  storms,  or  elec- 
tricity, which  are  the  enemies  of  silk  culture,  insures 
regular,  good  crops  every  year.  The  beauty  of  this  new 
industry  for  Calfornia  is  that  it  cannot  be  overdone.  I 
say  it  is  the  only  business  in  which  we  need  not  fear  op- 
position or  failure,  because  if  it  were  possible  to  plant 
the  whole  State  next  year  with-  full  grown  mulberry 
trees,  and  everybody  engaged .  in  raising  silk,  it  would 
not  lower  the  price  of  silk  two  cents  per  pound,  as  we 
have  not  only  California,  but  the  whole  world  for  a  mar- 
ket. Therefore  it  is  our  duty  to  encourage  and  help 
all  who  wish  to  engage  in  this  business.  For  my  part, 
I  intend  doing  this :  -I  will  furnish  persons  desiring  silk 
culture  in  their  locality  with  their  first  silkworm  eggs 
gratis.  They  will  only  have  to  furnish  me  their  address, 
and  the  amount  of  food  they  have,  so  as  to  guide  me  in 
.the  number  of  eggs  to  send. 

The  work  necessary  to  raise  silkworms  in  California  is 


130  THE   CALIFORNIA 

very  little,  as  our  climate  is  so  favorable  to  that  culture 
that  it  enabled  me  to  simplify  it  considerably.  In  proof 
of  this,  I  need  only  state  that  I  have  this  last  season 
raised  over  100,000  silkworms,  every  worm  making  a 
cocoon ;  and  all  this  with  my  own  work  alone.  This  is 
the  work  of  eight  persons  in  France  or  Italy.  Our 
California  silk  culture  is  so  simple  that,  as  soon  as  it  is 
published  extensively,  everybody  in  the  State  will  en- 
gage in  raising  silk  as  well  as  any  other  production.  If 
we  consider  it  a  moment,  the  quantity  of  silk  that  could 
be  raised  in  California  is  immense  ;  and  it  would  afford 
employment  to  thousands  of  families,  hi  raising  as  well 
as  in  manufacturing  it.  It  is  an  easy  work,  that  can  be 
done  by  aged  persons,  as  well  as  by  the  young  of  both 
sexes.  Then  our  ladies  would  have  a  right  to  f '»•••! 
proud  in  wearing  silk  dresses  made  of  silk  raised  by 
their  own  hands.  In  France  and  in  Italy  silk  is  raised 
very  extensively,  and  millions  of  families  are  living  by 
this  work.  The  silk  exported  from  Italy  surpasses  in 
value,  by  two-thirds,  all  other  expiations  together. 

A  remarkable  fact  is,  that  with  our  climate  so  very 
favorable  to  silkworms,  we  also  have  a  soil  well  adapted 
to  the  growth  of  mulberry  trees.  They  thrive  almost 
everywhere  in  the  State  ;  but  the  best  soil  for  them  that 
I  have  yet  seen  is  in  the  bottom  lands  of  the  Sacra- 
mento Valley.  A  large  quantity  of  those  trees  will  be 
planted  there  the  coming  season.  I  suppose  some  will 
also  be  planted  in  the  San  Joaquin  Valley,  where  there 
is  already  quite  a  large  plantation — that  of  Mr.  Gles- 
gjug — commenced  last  year.  But  the  largest  planta- 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  131 

tions  in  California  are  those  of  A.  Packard  and  E.  Goux, 
of  Santa  Barbara.  Those  plantations  were  made  three 
years  ago,  and  are  now  in  fine  condition.  These  gen- 
tlemen will  raise  the  coming  season  a  large  quantity  of 
silkworms,  and  will  probably  turn  them  to  eggs.  My 
own  exhibit  of  silk,  from  five  years  raising,  proves  be- 
yond a  doubt  that  California  is  the  very  best  spot  for 
that  culture.  This,  and  the  testimony  which  I  receive 
from  others,  shows  that  this  new  industry  for  California 
is  now  fairly  started. 

Two  gentlemen,  experienced,  scientific,  and  practical 
silk  growers,  on  their  way  back  from  China,  where  they 
had  been  to  buy  a  large  quantity  of  silkworms'  eggs,  re- 
cently came  to  see  me,  to  get  information  about  silk  in 
California.  I  told  them  all  the  facts,  showed  them  the 
cocoons  and  where  I  raised  them,  and  also  the  mulberry 
trees.  Being  gentlemen  who  understood  the  silk  busi- 
ness perfectly,  they  agreed  with  me  that  we  have  the 
best  silk  country  in  the  world,  and  were  so  pleased  at 
learning  this  fact  that  they  are  going  to  return  here  next 
summer  with  the  necessary  capital  to  buy  one  hundred 
acres  of  land  each,  to  raise  silkworms'  eggs  and  silk  on 
a  large  scale.  These  gentlemen  are  the  representatives 
of  the  two  largest  silk  houses  in  Europe,  and  are  now  on 
their  way  back  to  France.  From  them  I  learned  a 
very  important  fact,  namely,  that  our  climate  is  so  supe- 
rior for  silk  culture  that,  by  selecting  our  very  best 
cocoons  for  eggs  year  after  year  for  our  own  use,  we 
could  after  a  few  years  obtain  cocoons  that  would  beat 
everything  known  for  size  and  quality — that  is  to  say,  .a 


132  THE   CALIFORNIA 

superior  article.  In  this  opinion  I  fully  concur.  The 
coming  of  these  gentlemen  from  France  will  probably 
induce  other  silk  growers  to  come  also,  which  would  be 
a  great  benefit  to  the  State. 


[Mercantile  Gazette,  January  9, 1866.] 
SILK  CULTURE. 

Of  cotton  and  silk  we  have  made  a  successful  begin- 
ning :  of  the  former  about  800  acres  raised  in  1865, 
wliile  of  silk  and  silkworm  culture  the  following  commu- 
nication received  from  L.  Prevost,  of  San  Jose,  st;, 
that— 

u  Having  noticed  in  your  valuable  paper  an  article 
alluding  to  the  culture  of  the  silkworm  in  California,  and 
remarking  your  appreciation  of  the  importance  of  this 
interest,  I  desire  to  give  you  briefly  a  statement  em- 
bodying the  result  of  five  years'  experiments.  I  stated 
several  years  ago  my  belief  that  the  climate  of  Califor- 
nia was  superior  to  all  others  for  the  raising  of  the  silk- 
worm, and  the  attention  I  have  since  given  this  subject 
only  strengthens  that  conviction.  It  is  also  gratifying 
that  this  opinion  has  received  the  complete  endorsement 
of  two  practical  and  scientific  silk  growers,  representing 
the  largest  silk  houses  of  Europe,  who  called  upon  me 
on  their  return  from  China  and  other  portions  of  the 
globe.  After  examining  the  silk  cocoons  I  had  raised, 
they  pronounced  California  the  best  country  in  the  world 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  133 

for  silk  culture.  Why  this  is  so,  is  chiefly  the  absence 
of  rain-storms,  thunder,  etc.,  during  the  feeding  of 
worms  in  June.  The  first  time  I  raised  the  silk,  it  was 
the  prevailing  opinion  that  it  could  not  profitably  be 
done,  owing  to  the  high  price  of  labor.  I  was  aware  of 
the  difference  in  this  feature  of  California  from  ether 
silk-growing  countries ;  but  it  is  equally  a  fact  that  for 
the  price  of  renting  one  acre  of  land  in  Italy  or  France 
two  or  three  acres  can  be  bought  here.  This,  with  the 
employment  of  Chinese,  equalized  the  labor  question. 
To  enumerate  in  detail  a  few  of  the  advantages  Califor- 
nia possesses  over  other  silk-growing  countries,  I  note 
the  following  facts :  In  France  and  Italy,  notwithstand- 
ing all  the  care  which  the  climate  forces  growers  to  give 
the  worms,  they  are  more  or  less  diseased — in  the  best 
years,  calculating  their  loss  *at  least  25  to  30  per 
cent.,  and  often  running  as  high  as  75  per  cent.,  while 
in  California  we  have  no  loss  of  worms  from  disease, 
though  treating  them  roughly.  The  climate  so  favora- 
ble to  their  culture  is  equally  so  to  the  growth  of  the 
mulberry  tree,  surpassing  anything  I  have  witnessed 
elsewhere.  Of  course  the  more  food  we  have  the  more 
worms  we  can  raise.  In  the  silk  countries  already 
named,  the  land  having  been  cultivated  for  centuries,  is 
exhausted,  and  to  sustain  it  a  great  outlay  of  money  is 
required  to  properly  manure  'and  enrich  the  soil.  Here 
all  this  is  unnecessary,  as  well  as  the  erection,  as  in 
other  parts  of  the  world,  of  very  large  and  expensive 
buildings,  with  costly  apparatus.  A  structure  not  cost- 
ing one-quarter  the  amount  usually  expended  answering 


134  THE  CALIFORNIA 

every  purpose,  and  which  can  afterwards  be  used  for  the 
storage  of  grain,  etc.  Neither  is  any  outlay  required 
for  artificial  heat.  I  simply  transfer  the  eggs  from  the 
cellar  to  the  garret,  and  the  heat  of  the  sun  through  the 
roof  will  make  them  hatch  hi  three  days.  But  above 
all  is*  that  by  the  absence  of  all  elaborate  apparatus,  etc., 
thus  simplifying  the  culture  of  silkworms,  one  person 
here  can  do  the  work  of  eight  under  the  old  system. 
You  will  remember  I  am  not  giving  you  crude  ideas, 
but  settled  facts ;  and  any  reasoning  person  reflecting 
for  a  moment,  considering  the  above  named  points,  can- 
not fail  to  see  the  great  advantages  we  have  over  all 
other  silk-growing  countries,  not  only  raising  our  silk  at 
half  the  usual  cost,  but  as  for  reasons  before  given, 
being  a  superior  article,  we  will  get  the  highest  market 
price.  Then  let  us  stop  sending  our  millions  to  foreign 
countries,  estimated  at  not  less  than  from  eight  to  ten 
millions  of  dollars  annually ;  for  as  the  Southern  States 
are  adapted  to  the  raising  of  cotton— and  we  have  our 
cotton  States — so  let  California  be  our  silk  State.  To 
parties  in  any  part  of  the  world  who  wish  to  engage  in  a 
sure  and  profitable  business,  easily  understood,  and  one 
in  which  young  and  old  can  alike  engage,  I  can  say, 
come  to  California  and  raise  silk.  As  soon  as  there  is 
enough  silk  cultivated  here  we  will  have  our  domestic 
manufactories,  and  the  ladies  of  California  can  be  justly 
proud  of  wearing  silk  raised  and  manufactured  in  our 
own  State.  That  this  may  be  so,  and  that  I  can  see 
our  own  manufactured  silk  shipped  to  other  countries, 
bringing  hi  return  the  thousands  we  now  send  away,  are 
the  wishes  of  your  correspondent." 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  135 


OX  SILKWORMS  AND  THE  CULTURE  OF  SILK.*] 

The  Committee  on  these  subjects  have  endeavored  to 
perform  the  duty  designated,  but  regret  their  inability 
to  do  full  justice  to  the  important  trust  confided  to 
them. 

Their  especial  attention  was  called  to  the  exhibition 
of  silkworms  and  cocoons,  by  L.  Prevost  of  San  Jose*, 
who  has,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Committee,  most  suc- 
cessfully demonstrated  that  California  is  one  of  the  best, 
if  not  the  very  best  silk  producing  country  in  the 
world.  They  have  learned  to  their  own  satisfaction, 
not  only  from  those  who  know  something  of  Mr.  Pre- 
vost's  operations  in  this  line,  but,  also,  from  personal 
observation  during  a  visit  to  his  cocoonery  in  San  Jose*, 
that  Mr.  Prevost  is  justly  deserving  of  the  highest 
premium  the  Institute  can  award  him,  for  the  commend- 
able zeal  and  perseverance  he  has  exhibited  under  the 
greatest  difficulties,  in  successfully  inaugurating  this 
new  branch  of  industry  in  our  State.  The  demand, 
both  for  silk  and  silkworm  eggs,  is  so  extensive  and 
constantly  increasing,  that  the  business  cannot  be  over- 
done, but  its  .successful  prosecution  must,  in  time,  give 
employment  to  many  thousands  of  our  people,  with  a 
net  profit  of  millions  of  dollars  annually. 

Mr.  Prevost's  simple  narrative  of  his  early  efforts 
and  drawbacks  was  exceedingly  interesting  to  the  Com- 


*  Report  of  the  Committee  on  this  subject  to  the  San  Francisco 
Mechanics'  Institute,  at  their  Fifth  Industrial  Exhibition  in  1 865. 


136  THE   CALIFORNIA 

mittee,  and  they  induced  him  to  commit  to  writing  some 
of  the  leading  facts,  together  with  some  remarks  by 
Hentsch,  which  are  hereby  submitted,  in  the  hope  that 
they  may  not  be  lost  or  forgotten. 

The  Committee  deem  themselves  not  oversanguine 
of  the  great  results  to  flow  from  the  introduction  of  this 
important  branch  of  industry  into  our  State,  when  they 
hope  and  believe  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  a  grat- 
ified people  will,  through  their  Legislature,  offer  some 
public  recognition  of  the  services  rendered  by  Mr. 
Prevost. — Awarded  a  gold  medal. 

FACTS   ON   SILK   IN   CALIFORNIA. — BY  L.  PREVOST. 

After  I  had  passed  a  summer  in  California,  I  came 
to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  one  of  the  very  best  coun- 
tries in  the  world  for  raising  silk,  as  well  as  wine,  etc., 
etc.,  but  the  difficulty  was  to  obtain,  first,  mulberry 
trees,  and,  afterwards,  silkworm  eggs.  In  1863  or  '64, 
I  had  occasion  to  meet  with  Mr.  Henry  Hentsch,  who 
had  the  same  opinion  of  our  beautiful  climate,  and  its 
adaptability  for  silk  cultivation,  and  he,  himself,  began 
a  conversation  on  that  important  subject.  .From  tbat 
conversation  was  born  the  culture  of  silk  in  California. 
Mr.  Hentsch  imported  the  mulberry  seed  from  France, 
from  which  I  raised  a  number  of  fine  mulberry  trees. 
Mr.  Hentsch  was  informed  as  soon  as  the  trees  were 
of  some  size,  and  he  made  arrangements  to  import  silk- 
worm eggs  from  China.  They  arrived  here  dead — it 
was  impossible  to  hatch  one  of  them.  The  following 
year  he  imported  another  lot  from  the  same  place,  and 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  -  137 

with  the  same  result.  After  this  second  attempt  I  was 
a  little  discouraged,  finding  that  it  was  impossible  to 
import  eggs  in  good  condition,  and  expecting  to  have 
no  further  use  for  my  mulberry  trees,  I  had  the  most  of 
them  destroyed,  keeping  only  a  few. 

The  third  year,  Mr.  Hentsch  imported  eggs  again 
from  the  same  place,  and  at  the  same  time  from  France. 
I  was  then  very  sorry  to  have  destroyed  so  many  of 
my  mulberry  trees,  as  the  eggs  from  France  proved  to 
be  in  good  condition,  and  hatched  out  very  well.  At 
that  time  I  had  a  friend  here,  Mr.  Miller,  who  was  a 
competent  silk  cultivator,  to  whom  I  showed  the  eggs. 
He  pronounced  them  good,  and  also  agreed,  for  the 
first  time,  to  help  me,  which  he  did.  The  worms  did 
well,  and  produced  fine  cocoons  of  silk  of  the  first  qual- 
ity, as  I  can  prove  by  certificates  from  the  two  highest 
silk  societies  in  Europe,  to  whom  silk  and  silk  cocoons 
had  been  sent  to  be  tested. 

Up  to  this  time  we  have  not  been  able  to  discover 
any  indications  of  disease,  which  is  most  extraordinary  ; 
it  must  be  the  good  influence  of  the  climate  of  Califor- 
nia operating  as  we  expected.  As  I  had  no  other  room 
for  the  purpose,  I  have  been  obliged  to  raise  the  worms 
in  a  green  house,  which  was  extremely  hot  in  daytime, 
and  nearly  freezing  at  night.  Under  such  unfavorable 
circumstances,  not  one  worm  would  have  lived  in  Eu- 
rope. Now,  any  thinking  man  can  judge  what  success 
we  might  reasonably  expect  if  we  had  a  proper  room 
in  which  to  raise  them. 

The  first  year  1  made  silk  was  in  1860.     I  sentbou- 


138  THE    CALIFORNIA 

quets  of  cocoons  and  silk  to  about  every  "Fair  all  over 
our  State  ;  they  attracted  the  attention  of  visitors,  but 
I  received  no  encouragement.  On  the  contrary,  I 
heard  many  say  that  this  culture  could  not  be  pursued 
profitably  in  California,  on  account  of  the  high  price  of 
labor.  I  was  aware  of  the  apparent  truth  of  this  be- 
fore I  attempted  the  production  of  silk,  but  I  thought 
for  this  kind  of  labor  Chinese  might  be  employed,  who 
are  used  to  the  work ;  and,  beside  that,  I  knew  that 
the  price  for  buying  three  or  four  acres  of  land  here 
does  not  exceed  the  price  of  renting  one  acre  in  Eu- 
rope, where  silk  is  raised  in  large  quantities.  This 
advantage,  I  expected,  would  more  than  compensate 
for  the  difference  between  the  price  of  labor  in  Europe, 
and  Chinese  labor  here,  because  the  silk  grower  in  Eu- 
rope has  to  deduct  from  his  profits  the  rent  of  the  land 
every  year.  But  the  question  of  labor  is  now  fully  set- 
tled, and  silk  can  be  raised  in  California  with  great 
profit.  Calculating  on  the  great  superiority  of  our  cli- 
mate, I  thought  to  try  to  take  advantage  of  it,  and  I 
have  succeeded  in  simplifying  that  culture  even  beyond 
my  expectation.  One  man  here  can  raise  and  take 
care  of  as  many  silkworms  as  eight  men  can  do  in  Eu- 
rope. As  my  mode  of  culture  is  adapted  to  the  climate 
of  California,  I  propose  to  call  it  California  Silk  Cul- 
ture. It  could  by  no  means  be  employed  either  in 
France  or  Italy,  where  they  have  rains  during  the  sea- 
son of  feeding,  but  might  be  used  in  any  place  where 
there  is  a  climate  similar  to  this. 

The  culture  of  silk  in  California  is  so  simple  that  any 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  139 

one  may  understand  it.  It  is  easy  work,  and  can  be 
done  by  quite  young  persons,  either  male  or  female  ; 
the  ladies,  therefore,  may  have  the  pleasure  of  raising 
their  own  silk. 

It  will  be  a  great  pleasure  to  me  to  have  contributed 
something  towards  the  retention  in  our  State  of  the 
millions  of  dollars  that  are  paid  out  for  the  single  im- 
portation of  silk.  Not  only  may  we  raise  silk  for  our 
own  consumption,  but  we  can,  in  California,  raise  silk 
for  the  world,  and  export  it.  This  article  must  increase 
in  value  ;  this  year  it  is  increased  twenty-five  per  cent, 
in  price  in  Europe.  It  is  an  article  in  which  we  need 
not  fear  competition  ;  we  need  not  be  afraid  to  see  our 
neighbor  raising  it,  because,  if  nearly  everybody  was 
raising  it  all  over  the  State,  it  would  not  lower  the 
price  two  cents  per  pound.  This  year,  when  the  price 
of  fruits  is  exceedingly  low,  allows  us  to  show  the  advan- 
tage of  the  mulberry  over  fruit  trees,  as  the  fruit  must 
all  be  consumed  within  a  certain  time  or  it  is  lost, 
which  is  very  far  from  being  the  case  with  the  silk. 

I  have  been  engaged  in  my  experiments  in  Califor- 
nia silk  culture  three  years,  and  this  year  raised  over 
one  hundred  thousand  cocoons. 

Several  gentlemen  have  made  large  plantations,  so 
as  to  pursue  this  business  hereafter  on  a  larger  scale. 
Among  them  I  can  name  Mr.  A.  Packard,  and  also 
Mr.  Q.  Goux,  of  Santa  Barbara,  who  have  planted 
three  thousand  mulberry  trees,  and  Mr.  Glessing  of 
San  Joaquin  Valley,  whose  plantation  dates  from  last 
year. 


140  THE   CALIFORNIA 

Besides  what  may  be  done  with  the  silk,  we  have  a 
constant  demand  for  eggs  by  the  European  culturists, 
as  there  they  have  the  disease,  and  to  insure  a  crop 
have  to  get  their  eggs  from  countries  where  the  disease 
does  not  prevail.  By  not  using  sound  eggs  their  crop 
is  very  much  exposed ;  but,  besides  all  that,  and  all 
they  can  do,  in  their  best  years  their  losses  are  gener- 
ally twenty-five  per  cent.,  sometimes  fifty  per  cent.,  and, 
in  very  bad  years,  as  high  as  seventy-five  per  cent. 
Here  we  suffer  none  of  these  losses,  and,  as  there  is 
nothing  to  cause  disease,  every  worm  makes  a  cocoon. 
This  also  merits  some  reflection  and  consideration  in 
favor  of  the  superiority  of  our  climate.  It  would  be 
quite  too  long  to  enumerate  every  thing  in.  our  favor, 
but  I  cannot  help  remarking  that  the  principal  point  is 
that  the  mulberry  tree  grows  here  most  luxuriantly, 
and  I  believe,  also,  that  our  virgin  soil  produces  leaves 
of  the  best  quality.  In  order  that  every  one  may  be 
able  to  raise  his  own  mulberry  trees,  I  have  published 
a  treatise  on  the  culture  of  that  tree,  both  by  seeds 
and  cuttings,  in  the  California  Farmer,  and  also  in 
the  French  paper.  It  is  calculated  that  an  ounce  of 
silkworm  eggs  contains  forty  thousand ;  I  have  pro- 
duced several  millions  of  eggs  this  season,  and  they 
were  all  sold  at  the  rate  of  ten  dollars  per  ounce  to  be 
sent  to  France,  and  those  for  years  to  come  are  engaged 
for  the  same  house.  If  I  had  them  by  hundreds  of 
pounds  I  could  sell  them  immediately.  The  eggs  are 
in  great  demand,  also,  for  Mexico ;  I  had  an  order  for 
that  country  for  five  hundred  ounces,  but,  of  course, 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  141 

was  unable  to  fill  it.  The  largest  order  I  had  was  for 
one  hundred  pounds,  for  Italy,  and  when  I  received 
that  order  I  had  only  three  ounces  to  sell.  All  this 
shows  that  in  the  future,  besides  supplying  a  large  ex- 
port demand  for  silk,  we  will  also  have  to  export 
largely  of  eggs. 

The  variety  of  mulberry  to  cultivate  to  obtain  the 
best  quality  of  silk  is  the  white  mulberry  (morus  alba) 
and  its  varieties,  particularly  the  moretti.  As  to  the 
muUicaulis,  I  would  recommend  it  only  when  the  worms 
are  very  young,  but  not  afterwards.  The  feeding  of 
the  worms  continues  only  thirty-two  or  thirty-four  days, 
when  they  make  their  cocoons,  and  twelve  days  after 
that  they  come  out  butterflies,  and  lay  their  eggs  for 
the  following  year.  They  have  to  be  kept  in  a  cool, 
dry  cellar  to  prevent  them  from  hatching. 

Each  female  is  expected  to  lay  about  three  hundred 
eggs.  Three  hundred  good  cocoons  weigh  about  one 
pound,  and  an  ounce  of  eggs  can  produce  one  hundred 
and  sixty-five  pounds  of  cocoons ;  twenty-eight  ounces 
of  selected  cocoons  give  two  ounces  of  eggs. 

REMARKS  OF  MR.  HENRY  HENTSCH. 

The  memorandum  of  Mr.  Prevost  contains  valuable 
and  correct  information  about  California  silk  culture. 
The  main  point  on  which  the  report  must  attract  the 
attention  of  the  community  is  this,  that  California  has 
one  "of  the  best,  if  not  the  very  best  climate  in  the 
world  for  producing  silk  successfully,  on  account  of 
the  absence  of  rains  and  storms  during  the  months  of 


142  THE   CALIFORNIA 

May,  June,  and  July,  which,  prevailing  in  Europe,  kill 
millions  and  millions  of  silkworms  annually. 

The  second  point  is,  that  it  does  not  require  any  cap- 
ital— or,  at  least,  very  little — merely  the  purchase  of 
the  mulberry  trees,  which  may  be  planted  around  the 
farms,  cottages,  and  country  residences. 

The  shade  of  the  mulberry  tree  is  as  good  as  the 
shade  of  the  cotton-wood  tree,  and  the  fruit  is  very 
good  for  poultry.  When  the  trees  have  grown  up,  the 
children  and  women  may  start  in  the  silk  trade,  as  it 
requires  only  the  labor  of  gathering  leaves  to  feed  the 
worms,  and  that  occupation  takes  only  six  weeks.  It 
would  be  useless  to  go  into  further  detail,  as  the  prac- 
tice is  ten  times  more  valuable  than  the  theory.  There 
are  in  California  a  great  number  of  Italians  and  French- 
men who  understand  the  silk-raising  business,  and  it 
will  be  very  easy  to  have  information  and  directions 
when  wanted. 

The  point  to  be  first  attended  to  is  the  planting  of 
mulberry  trees,  which  involves  but  a  trifling  expense  for 
the  present,  and  may  prove  of  very  great  value  in  a 
few  years. 

HENRY  F.  WILLIAMS, 
SAMUEL  TYLER, 

Committee. 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  143 

CHAPTER   I. 

OUR   CLIMATE — ITS    SUPERIORITY  AND  ITS  ADVANTAGES. 

I  wish  you,  gentle  reader,  to  allow  me  to  have  a  talk 
with  you  on  our  climate,  as  it  is  impossible  for  me  to 
write  this  book  without  beginning  with  that  genial  silk 
climate.  I  have  already  written  and  said  that  we  were 
in  the  best  silk  country  in  the  world ;  and  I  still  main- 
tain the  proposition.  This  will  oblige  me  to  make  a  few 
general  remarks,  on  what  I  consider  the  most  important 
point ;  because  our  strength  here  is  simply  in  the  supe- 
riority of  our  climate  for  the  silkworm,  and  the  adap- 
tability of  our  rich  soil  for  the  mulberry.  It  has  been 
said  :  "  Wherever  the  mulberry  finds  a  congenial 
climate  and  soil,  there  also  the  silkworm  will  flourish." 
Such  climate  and  soil  has  California  in  a  pre-eminent 
degree. 

The  silkworm  requires  a  pure  atmosphere  for  the 
preservation  of  his  health  ;  and  we  have  it  here. 

It  has  been  observed  in  Toulouse,  the  healthiest  part 
of  France,  that  the  silkworms  raised  in  the  huts  of  the 
poor  peasants,  and -enjoying  the  pure  air  through  the 
cracks  and  broken  windows,  were  better  than  those 
raised  by  the  rich.  This  shows  that  they  need  pure  air. 
We  can  supply  them  with  any  amount  of  such  air. 

But  who  gave  me  the  idea  that  we  were  in  a  silk 
country  ?  In  1850,  after  I  had  seen  the  first  summer, 
it  was  the  observing  our  fine  climate  without  rain  from 
May  to  October ;  and,  consequently,  without  storm  and 


144  THE   CALIFORNIA 

thunder — without  any  -shock  of  electricity ;  in  fact, 
nothing  to  trouble  the  silkworm :  on  the  contrary,  any 
amount  of  sunshine,  that  causes  the  mulberry  leaves  to 
be  of  the  first  quality.  This  contributed  largely  to  their 
health,  as  healthy  food  makes  healthy  worms. 

Having  no  other  room  that  I  could  use  in  1860, 
when  I  raised  the  first  silk  in  California,  I  had  to 
'do  it  in  a  little  green-house — a  very  bad  place  to  raise 
silkworms,  as  they  nee'd  to  be  in  as  even  temperature 
as  possible  ;  but  in  no  other  place  does  it  vary  so  much 
as  in  a  green-house,  as  you  have  a  suffocating  heat 
during  the  day,  and  it  is  very  cold  at  night.  From 
what  cause  have  I  succeeded  so  well  in  such  a  place  ? 
Our  climate  ! 

For  two  years  I  have  raised  them  in  my  garret.  It 
is  well  established  that  the  silkworm  needs  plenty  of 
air;  there  .1  can  give  hardly  any.  Why  then  have 
they  succeeded  so  well  there  also  ?  From  the  climate. 

Another  fact,  in  which  all  the  silk-growers  are 
agreed,  is  that  the  room  in  which  you  are  to  raise  your 
worms  must  be  free  of  smells,  and  particularly  the 
smell  from  the  kitchen !  Mrs.  Sauffrignon,  in  San 
Jose',  raised  worms  in  her  kitchen  near  her  large  stove, 
on  which  she  has  to  cook  for  a  large  family ;  and  there 
she  had  large,  strong,  lively  and  healthy  worms,  who 
made  the  finest  and  best  cocoons  that  we  had  on  exhi- 
bition at  the  Fairs  this  year.  How  is  it  that  she  had 
such  a  result  in  a  kitchen  ?  The  answer  is,  from  our 
climate.  The  worms,  eating  fresh  mulberry  leaves 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  145 

grown  constantly  under  the  rajs  of  a  genial  sun,  can't 
fail  to  be  healthy  and  make  good  cocoons. 

I  could  put  here  many  more  examples,  but  I  think 
these  are  all-sufficient  to  prove  the  superiority  of  our 
climate  for  silk  culture. 

I  do  not  mean  by  the  above  to  advise  any  one  to  do 
the  same  ;  on  the  contrary,  I  will  do  all  I  can  in  this 
manual  to  make  every  one  understand  that  they  must 
not  do  it :  I  have  done  it  simply  because  I  could  not 
help  it.  The  above  facts  are  merely  to  show  the  power 
of  our  fine  climate.  It  was  also  the  climate  which  in- 
duced me  to  change  the  culture  from  the  system  pur- 
sued in  France  and  Italy,  in  order  to  curtail  the  work. 
Such  a  superior  climate  offers  us  many  advantages. 
These  advantages  are  enumerated  in  a  letter  that  I 
sent  to  the  "  California  Farmer,"  dated  December  21st, 
1865,  and  published  in  the  first  number  of  January  last ; 
it  reads  thus : 

"  DEAR  SIR — In  my  letter  of  November  12th, 
which  you  published  in  the  '  Farmer '  of  November  17th, 
I  say  the  enumeration  of  facts  in  favor  of  silk  culture  in 
California  are  many,  and  they  will  be  the  subject  of 
another  letter  as  soon  as  possible ;  and,  as  it  is  too  cold 
to  work  outside,  I  concluded  to  remain  indoors  and 
devote  a  few  moments  to  that  purpose. 

First — The  question  of  labor  we  settle  at  the  start. 
That  question,  before  I  made  any  silk,  was  settled  in 
my  own  mind.  I  was  aware  of  the  difference  in  the 
price  of  labor  here,  compared  with  that  in  France  and 
Italy,  but  thought  that  we  could  make  up  the  difference 


146  THE   CALIFORNIA 

bj  first  employing  Chinese  to  do  the  work,  as   it  is 
labor  to  which  they  are  accustomed. 

Second — That  the  price  of  buying  two  or  three  acres 
of  land  in  California  does  not  exceed  the  price  of  renting 
one  acre  in  France  or  Italy,  where  silk  is  raised  largely  ; 
because  if  any  one  goes  into  the  silk  culture  with  the 
intention  of  making  it  a  business,  he  is  not  obliged  to  do 
so  in  the  neighborhood  of  cities  where  land  is  high  ;  he 
can  do  it  where  land  is  cheap  and  can  be  had  for  a  mere 
trifle.  It  does  not  necessarily  lie  near  a  railroad  or  a 
fine  wagon-road,  because  in  this  branch  of  industry 
there  is  no  teaming,  as  a  man  can  carry  on  his  back  or 
on  a  mule  many  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  silk.  The 
most  important  point  is  to  find  the  soil  more  suitable 
for  the  growth  of  the  mulberry  tree,  no  matter  where  the 
place  is.  This  will  render  very  valuable  some  very  fine 
rich  little  valleys  that  happen  to  be  between  the  moun- 
tains. 

It  is  very  important  to  understand  that  in  France  and 
Italy  the  silk-grower  has  to  deduct  every  year,  from 
his  profits,  the  large  rent  he  has  to  pay.  '  It  was  my 
intention  to  have  the  question  of  labor  settled  at  the 
first  start.  Now,  any  thinking  man  reflecting  and  con- 
sidering these  two  facts  will  see,  at  once,  that  not  only 
they  make  up  for  the  difference  of  price  of  labor  in  case 
we  should  be  obliged  to  raise  silk  with  as  much  work 
as  they  have  to  bestow  in  the  above  named  countries, 
but  leave  a  good  balance  in  our  favor  ;  and  what  I  have 
to  say  now  will  all  be  proof  in  favor  of  silk  culture  in 
California,  and  show  that  we  can  raise  silk  here  cheaper 


117 

than  in  any  other  country,  and  not  have  to  sell  it  cheaper: 
on  the  contrary,  California  silk,  by  the  superiority  of 
the  climate,  is  bound  to  be  a  superior  article,  and  con- 
sequently will  command  the  market  in  all  parts  of  the 
world.  This  question  having  been  settled  we  will  leave 
it,  and  go  on  to  the  advantages  which  we  have  over 
others. 

Third — We  come  to  a  great  point  that  deserves  at- 
tention. It  is,  as  I  have  said  in  some  of  my  previous 
letters,  that  in  France  and  Italy,  with  all  the  care  which 
the  climate  forces  them  to  give  to  the  worms,  they  are 
more  or  less  diseased ;  and,  in  their  very  good  years, 
they  cannot  calculate  their  losses  at  less  than  twenty-five 
or  thirty  per  cent.;  and,  in  bad  years,  fifty  per  cent.;  and 
I  have  been  told  that  in  very  bad  years  the  losses  have 
been  as  high  as  seventy-five  in  one  hundred  worms. 
What  do  you  think  of  that  ?  Should  not  this  fact  alone 
be  enough  to  make  everybody  wish  to  go  into  the  silk 
business,when  we  consider  a  moment  the  power  of  our  fine 
climate  on  the  silkworms,  that  even  after  treating  them 
here  very  roughly,  we  have  no  disease  to  observe,  con- 
sequently no  losses,  and  every  worm  makes  his  cocoon  ? 
It  is  very  simple  and  easy  to  understand  why  it  is  so, 
because  they  have  there,  during  the  feeding  time,  rain, 
thunder  and  lightning — which  are  the  enemies  of  the 
worms  ;  whereas  here,  as  everybody  knows,  at  the  time 
of  feeding,  (June)  we  have  nothing  of  the  kind,  nothing 
to  create  disease  among  them.  That  is  where  our 
superiority  over  other  countries  lies.  We  have  a  fine 
and  regular  dry  season  at  that  time,  and  it  is  this  regu- 


148  THE   CALIFORNIA 

larity  that  insures  to  us  in  the  future  good  crops,  and 
no  loss  or  failure  to  be  apprehended  ;  all  those  living  in 
California  can  see  that  this  is  the  truth. 

Fourth — The  climate  that  is  so  favorable  to  silkworms 
is  also,  in  the  same  proportion,  as  favorable  to  the 
growth  of  the  mulberry  tree  ;  and  this  is  very  important, 
because  we  cannot  expect  to  raise  silk  without  the  mul- 
berry tree,  for  it  is  the  foundation  of  that  culture  ;  and 
the  more  we  grow  the  more  silk  we  can  raise.  The 
mulberry  tree  grows  almost  everywhere  in  California, 
but  when  it  happens  to  be  in  the  soil  that  suits  it  best 
its  growth  is  extraordinary ;-  there  is  no  other  tree  to 
compare  with  it :  you  can  hardly  believe  when  you  see 
it.  The  bottom  lands  of  the  Sacramento  Valley  are 
about  the  best  that  I  know  of  for  the  mulberry  to  grow 
rapidly.  Our  valley  has  some  favorable  spots  also,  and 
I  started  a  few  weeks  ago  to  see  two  mulberry  trees 
that  I  heard  of,  and  was  very  much  surprised  at  finding 
them  so  large ;  being,  I  suppose,  the  largest  in  the 
State.  The  proprietor  assured  me  that  he  planted  them 
only  about  seven  years  ago.  This  is  also  a  positive 
evidence  that  in  the  growing  of  mulberry  trees  we  sur- 
pass all  other  countries. 

Fifth — In  the  silk  countries  referred  to  above,  the 
land  has  been  cultivated  so  many  years  that  it  is  ex- 
hausted. They  have  to  buy  manure,  which  sells  there 
very  high  ;  they  have  then  to  cart  it,  and  sometimes  from 
a  great  distance  ;  they  have  the  work  of  spreading  it  on 
the  ground  and  putting  it  in  ;  and  the  labor  ;  and  the 


149 

buying  of  the  manure  is  costly.  We  have  no  need  of 
that  here,  as  we  have  a  virgin  soil  to  plant  in. 

Sixth — They  have  to  erect  very  large  and  costly 
buildings,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  raising  their  silkworms. 
In  these  buildings  they  have  all  kinds  of  apparatus,  all 
of  which  costs  a  large  amount  of  money.  We  have  no 
need  of  all  this ;  our  only  requirement  is  a  room  to  raise 
our  worms  in,  but  not  a  costly  one  ;  and,  as  to  the  ap- 
paratus, we  do  not  require  any  at  all. 

Seventh — They  have  to  use  artificial  heat,  which  is 
also  very  costly.  We  use  nothing  of  the  kind  here  ; 
when  we  need  more  heat  it  is k  for  hatching  the  eggs. 
When  I  want  mine  to  hatch  I  take  them  simply  from 
the  cellar  to  the  garret,  and  the  heat  of  the  sun  through 
the  roof  is  sufficient  to  make  them  hatch  within  their 
regular  time. 

Eighth — We  now  come  to  the  most  important  part, 
and  that  is  to  turn  the  mulberry  leaves  into  silk.  This 
requires  much  labor  in  France  and  Italy,  but  here  it  is 
almost  nothing.  As  I  found  our  climate  so  very  favor- 
able I  thought  I  would  take  advantage  of  it,  and  suc- 
ceeded certainly  beyond  what  I  expected,  having  been 
able  to  change  the  culture  to  one  adapted  to  our  cli- 
mate, and  in  reducing  the  labor  to  one-eighth  of  what 
is  required  by  the  old  system.  It  seems  to  be  so  extra- 
ordinary that  some  persons  would  hardly  believe  it ; 
but  it  is  a  fact,  and  I  am  ready  to  prove  it  at  any  time 
before  any  committee  that  may  be  appointed  for  that 
purpose,  composed  of  the  very  best  and  most  competent 
men  in  the  country.  I  will  here  state  to  my  readers 


150  THE   CALIFORNIA 

that  I  wish  them  to  remember  that  my  rule  is  to  write 
nothing  but  what  I  am  convinced  of,  and  what  I  can 
prove ;  this  being  well  understood,  I  wish  them  not  to 
forget  it.  I  am  not  a  writer,  but  I  do  the  best  I  can  to 
be  understood  and  convey  my  ideas.  Now  this  great 
reduction  of  labor,  if  it  was  well  understood,  is  enough 
to  induce  every  one  to  go  into  that  important  branch 
of  industry.  I  will  simply  say  here,  let  every  reasoning 
man  peruse  and  reflect  on  the  above  facts,  and  I  am 
sure  that  he  will  become  satisfied  that  we  can  here  pro- 
duce the  silk  with  profit,  for  half  the  price  that  it  can 
be  done  in  France  or  Italy.  But  we  have  no  reason 
for  selling  it  at  half  price ;  our  climate  being  so  favor- 
able for  it  the  California  silk  is  bound  to  be  a  superior 
article,  and  consequently  will  command  the  highest 
market  price." 


CHAPTER  H. 

SILK   IN   CALIFORNIA. 

It  is  my  intention,  in  about  two  yean,  to  write  the 
History  of  Silk  in  California ;  as  I  have  been  raising  it 
here  for  six  years,  and  am  consequently  acquainted 
with  all  the  incidents  of  its  introduction  and  culture  into 
this  State.  I  have  many  interesting  documents,  letters, 
etc.,  to  publish,  all  of  which  will  show  how  I  have  been 
discouraged  at  the  start,  instead  of  being  encouraged, 


151 

as  should  have  been  the  case  in  such  an  important 
culture.  But  all  this  had  no  influence  on  me.  I  had  such 
a  firm  confidence  in  our  beautiful  silk  climate,  that  I 
did  not  take  any  notice  of  all  that,  and  still  persisted. 
And  more,  (I  must  confess  it  to  you  in  secret)  I  could 
not  help  having  a  certain  contempt  for  all  those  that 
had  objections  to  it,  as  it  appeared  to  me  like  refusing 
to  acknowledge  that  it  is  daylight  at  noon. 

As  it  will  require  a  large  volume  for  the  history  of 
Silk  in  California,  I  do  not  intend  to  put  it  here  ;  but 
I  think  that  I  must  say  a  few  words  about  it,  being  as 
brief  as  possible. 

After  I  had  spent  the  first  summer  here,  in  1850, 
I  judged  that  it  was  a  silk  climate,  and  took  occasion  to 
speak  about  it  to  different  persons.  In  the  fall  of  1852, 
I  had  a  long  conversation  on  that  subject,  for  the  whole 
evening,  with  Henry  Hentsch,  Esq.,  of  San  Francisco. 
He  was,  and  had  been,  also  of  the  same  opinion ;  but 
there  were  no  mulberry  trees  to  be  found  in  the  State 
to  try  that  culture.  It  was  then  agreed  that  Mr. 
Hentsch  should  import  the  seed  from  France.  When 
they  came,  in  1854, 1  sowed  them,  and  they  grew  out 
finely.  After  the  trees  were  of  sufficient  size,  I  told 
Mr.  Hentsch  that  it  would  be  good  now  to  import  silk- 
worms' eggs.  He  procured  some  from  China ;  but  the 
eggs  were  bad,  or  had  been  spoiled  on  the  voyage ;  none 
of  that  first  importation  hatched.  The  year  after,  some 
more  were  procured,  with  the  same  result.  For  the 
third  time,  Mr.  Hentsch  ordered  some  more,  again  from 
China,  and  at  the  same  time  ordered  some  from  France. 


152  THE    CALIFORNIA 

They  all  arrived  here  early  in  the  spring  of  1860. 
When  they  arrived  I  showed  them  to  a  friend,  Mr. 
Jacob  Muller,  a  competent  silk-grower ;  he  thought 
that  the  eggs  were  good,  at  least  some  .of  them.  It 
proved  afterwards  that  the  Chinese  were  not  very  good, 
as  one  or  two  dozen  only  hatched  ;  but  the  lot  from 
France  hatched  out  finely.  My  friend  Mr.  Muller 
helping  to  get  this  lot  of  worms  through,  they  produced 
fine  and  superior  cocoons.  Samples  of  these  I  forwarded 
to  France,  and  they  were  found  to  be  of  first  quality. 

The  same  year  (1860)  I  sent  cocoons,  bouquets  of 
cocoons  and  real  silk,  to  all  our  Fairs,  all  over  our  silk 
State ;  but  the  officers  of  the  different  societies  at  that 
time  did  not  understand  their  duty,  and  the  importance 
of  that  rich  culture,  as  they  were  giving  silver  goblets, 
etc.,  (as  their  lists  of  premiums  show)  to  things  that 
could  not  advance  the  interests  of  the  State  one  dime, 
and  did  not  even  give  a  diploma  to  the  first  California 
silk,  with  the  exception  of  one,  the  Man  Jbaquin  Valley 
Agricultural  Society,  which  had  the  honor  of  giving  a 
diploma  to  the  first  silk  producer  in  California. 

Since  1860  I  have  always  raised  the  silk,  but  never 
observed  any  disease  among  the  worms,  notwithstanding 
that  I  have  raised  them  in  bad  places,  not  being  able 
to  have  any  thing  better.  I  have  changed  the  mode  of 
feeding  so  as  to  curtail  the  work.  This  will  be  described 
hereafter,  at  its  proper  place. 

In  1865 1  raised  about  one  hundred  and  five  thousand 
worms,  and  consequently  the  same  amount  of  cocoons, 
and  had  a  great  number  of  visitors,  among  whom  was 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  153 

Mr.  Plum,  the  President  of  the  Mechanics'  Institute  in 
San  Francisco.  He  urged  me  strongly  to  exhibit  at 
their  Fair ;  but  as  I  was  not  satisfied  with  the  results  of 
my  first  exhibitions,  I  did  not  care  to  do  so  any  more. 
When  their  Fair  was  open,  not  seeing  me  coming,  my 
old  friend  Mr.  H.  F.  Williams,  of  the  same  Institute, 
came  with  two  other  gentlemen  and  persuaded  me  to  go, 
and  I  made  there  a  fine  exhibition  of  silk,  silk  cocoons, 
silkworms,  and  silkworms'  eggs ;  and  then  for  the 
first  time  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  my  humble  efforts 
appreciated.  The  next  day  our  leading  papers  had 
fine  articles  on  silk ;  and  my  exhibition  attracted  the 
attention  of  the  visitors,  as  I  had  the  crowd  all  the 
time.  A  gold  medal  has  been  awarded  to  it.  At  the 
request  of  their  presidents,  I  went  to  the  State  Fair, 
and  also  to  Stockton  ;  and  at  both  places  it  created  as 
much  interest  as  in  San  Francisco,  and  gold  medals 
were  also  given.  Besides  a  good  many  plantations 
made  before,  since  these  exhibitions  the  silk  culture  has 
been  fairly  started. 

Last  year,  also,  Mr.  Newman,  a  practical  weaver, 
came  to  see  me,  and  from  the  information  I  gave  him, 
some  time  after,  in  connection  with  one  of  his  friends, 
Mr.  W.  W.  Meyer,  he  went  to  the  Eastern  States  to 
buy  all  the  machinery  necessary  for  a  silk  manufacture. 
He  came  back  this  year,  in  July,  with  the  machinery. 
Two  looms  have  been  put  up  in  San  Francisco,  and  the 
first  pieces  of  silk  manufactured  in  California  were 
ready  in  time  to  be  exhibited  at  our  Fairs  in  September 
last.  Now,  with  some  inducements  on  the  part  of  our 


154  THE   CALIFORNIA 

citizens  here  in  San  Jose,  we  have  succeeded  in  having 
that  Pioneer  Silk  Manufacture  located  here.  They 
are  progressing  rapidly,  and  already  a  large  frame 
building  is  erected,  where  they  are  busy  unpacking, 
cleaning  and  fixing  the  machinery.  They  are  now  also 
busy  at  the  main  building  for  the  manufactory.  It  is 
a  brick  building,  forty-five  by  eighty,  and  is  to  be  two 
stories  high. 

I  have  this  year  again  exhibited  reeled  silk  and  silk 
cocoons  from  different  varieties,  and  also  good  samples 
of  cocoons,  raised  in  different  parts  of  the  State,  by 
different  persons,  who  never  had  silkworms  in  their 
hands  before,  and  who  had  all  succeeded.  This  is  con- 
clusive proof  of  the  superiority  of  our  climate  for  silk 
culture,  because  those  who  have  never  done  it  before 
are  liable  to  make  many  mistakes.  But  no  matter 
here  ;  the  worms  make  their  cocoons  anyhow  ;  and  now, 
with  the  Manual,  everybody  will  be  enabled  to  under- 
take the  culture  of  silk  with  full  success. 

Then  let  us  begin  it  in  taking  first  the  mulberry  tree, 
which  is  the  foundation  of  that  rich  culture. 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  155 

CHAPTER  III. 

HISTORY  OF  SILK — ITS  ANTIQUITY  AND  COMMERCE. 

Silk,  or  the  splendid  material  produced  by  the  silk- 
worm, was  first  known  in  ancient  times  as  ser  or  serica, 
in  China.  It  was  there  first  discovered  in  its  own 
native  forests  of  the  mulberry  trees.  In  that  country 
it  was  called  s<?,  and  by  transition,  ser  by  the  Greeks, 
and  sericum  by  the  Romans  ;  and  hence,  by  the  different 
nations  of  Italy,  France  and  England,  it- is  variously 
called  seta,  soie,  and  silk,  at  the  present  day. 

The  silkworm,  or  bombyx  mori,  is  a  precious  insect, 
which*  is  thus  denominated  from  morus,  the  plant  on 
w.hich  it  feeds. 

The  cultivation  of  silk  commenced  in  China  seven 
hundred  years  before  Abraham,  and  two  thousand  seven 
hundred  years  before  Christ.  The  Emperor  Houng  Ti, 
"  The  Emperor  of  the  Earth,"  who  reigned  over  China 
more  than  one  hundred  years,  taught  the  Chinese  to 
construct  houses,  ships,  mills  and  other  useful  works ; 
and  the  Empress  Si  Ling  Chi,  to  contribute  also  to  the 
welfare  of  the  Empire,  aided  by  the  women  of  her 
household,  gathered  the  silkworms  from  the  trees, 
took  them  to  her  apartments,  fed  them  with  leaves  of 
the  mulberry,  and,  being  sheltered,  they  yielded  silk 
superior  in  quality  to  that  produced  in  the  forests.  She 
also  taught  them  its  manufacture,  and  how  to  embroider. 

Raising  silk,  and  its  manufacture,  and  the  weaving, 


156 


THE   CALIFORNIA 


continued  to  be  the  principal  occupations  of  the  suc- 
ceeding Empresses.  Apartments  were  appropriated 
to  this  purpose  in  the  imperial  palace ;  and  soon,  from 
the  highest  rank  of  females,  it  became  the  occupation  of 
all  ranks  in  China;  and  ere  long  the  Emperor,  the 
learned  class,  the  Princes,  the  Mandarins,  courtiers  and 
all  the  rich  were  attired  in  the  splendid  fabrics  of  silk, 
until  finally  silk  became  the  great  and  inexhaustible 
source  of  the  wealth  of  China.  From  China  it  was 
exported  to  India,  Persia,  Arabia  and  the  whole  of 
Asia. 

The  expeditions  of  Alexander  to  Persia  and  India 
first  introduced  the  knowledge  of  silk  to  the  Grecians, 
three  hundred  and  fifty  years  before  Christ ;  and  with 
the  increase  of  wealth  and  luxury  in  the  Grecian  Court, 
the  demand  for  silk  prodigiously  augmented.  Persia 
also  became  rich  in  the  commerce  of  silk,  which  they 
procured  from  China.  The  ancient  Phoenicians  also 
engaged  in  the  traffic  of  silk,  and  finally  carried  it  to  the 
east  of  Euroue. 

At  Rome,  and  so  late  as  A.D.  280,  a  silk  attire  of 
purple  was  accounted  by  an  Emperor  as  a  luxury  too 
expensive  even  for  an  Empress ;  its  value  being  equal 
to  that  of  gold  by  weight.  -„. 

In  the  sixth  century  two  monks  arrived  at  the  Court 
of  the  Emperor  Justinian,  at  Constantinople,  from  a  mis- 
sionary expedition  to  China.  They  had  brought  with 
them  the  seeds  of  the  mulberry,  and  communicated  to 
him  the  discovery  of  the  mode  of  rearing  the  silkworms  ; 
and  although  the  exportation  of  the  insect  from  China 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  157 

was  forbidden  on  pain  of  death,  yet  by  the  liberal 
promises  and  persuasions  of  Justinian,  they  undertook  a 
new  expedition,  and  at  length  returned  through  Bukaria 
and  Persia  to  Constantinople,  in  555,  with  the  eggs  of 
the  precious  insect  concealed  in  the  hollow  of  their 
canes  or  pilgrims'  staves,  which  they  had  obtained  in 
the  far  and  still  more  distant  country.  Until  this  time 
the  extensive  manufactures  of  the  Phoenician  cities  of 
Tyre  and  Berytus  had  received  their  supplies  of  raw 
silk  through  Persia  from  China.  Even  to  the  days  of 
Justinian,  according  to  ancient  historians,  no  person  at 
Constantinople  knew  that  silk  was  the  product  of  an 
insect.  It  was  generally  supposed  to  be  produced  from 
the  bark  or  leaves  of  trees,  or  growing  like  the  finest 
hair  from  their  branches. 

In  Greece,  the  culture  and  manufacture  of  silk  soon 
overspread  the  country.  The  noblest  families  aided  by 
their  example.  The  people  of  Thebes  and  Athens,  from 
the  time  of  Justinian,  cultivated  and  manufactured  silk 
for  four  hundred  years ;  and  the  Venetians,  in  the 
height  of  their  prosperity  and  commercial  glory,  carried 
supplies  of  silk  from  Greece  to  the  whole  West  of  Eu- 
rope. On  the  downfall  of  the  Roman  empire,  Arabia 
became  the  seat  and  center  of  sciences,  of  arts  and 
civilization.  The  establishment  of  the  Turkish  power 
in  Asia,  about  the  middle  of  the  sixth  century,  and  the 
subsequent  wars,  caused  great  interruption  to  the  cara- 
van trade  between  China  and  Persia;  and  after  the 
conquest  of  Mahommed  II.,  the  Saracens  or  Arabians 
planted  the  mulberry  and  encouraged  the  culture  of 

8 


158  THE    CALIFORNIA 

silk  everywhere  throughout  their  dominions,  both  on  the 
islands  and  on  all  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean ;  silk 
and  mulberry  trees  were  introduced  into  Spain  and 
Portugal  by  the  Arabians,  on  their  conquest  of  those 
countries,  in  711. 

From  Greece,  the  cultivation  of  silk  was  introduced 
to  Sicily  and  Naples.  Roger,  king  of  Sicily,  in  his 
invasion  of  Greece,  in  1146,  introduced,  by  compulsion, 
many  silk  weavers  and  manufacturers,  whom  he  carried 
to  Palermo.  In  twenty  years  the  manufactures  of  Si- 
cily became  famous,  being  adorned  with  various  colors 
and  figures,  interwoven  with  gold  and  embellished  with 
pearls.  Here  it  long  mysteriously  remained ;  and  it 
was  not  till  1540  that  it  had  extended  to  Piedmont,  and 
indeed  to  all  Italy.  So  extensive  is  its  cultivation  at 
the  present  day  throughout  Italy,  that,  according  to 
Count  Dandolo,  two-thirds  of  their  whole  exports  to  all 
countries  consist  of  silk. 

Its  first  introduction  into  France  was  in  1494  ;  but  no 
very  important  results  succeeded  until,  in  1564,  Trau- 
cat,  a  gardener  of  Nismes,  established  the  first  founda- 
tion of  a  nursery  of  white  mulberry  trees,  with  an  effect 
so  successful,  that  from  this  source  the  cultivation  ex- 
tended within  a  few  years,  over  the  whole  of  the  south- 
ern provinces  of  France  ;  but  its  final,  and  more  com- 
plete establishment  in  France,  in  1603,  is  due  to  Henry 
IV.,  who  encouraged  the  formation  of  nurseries  and  the 
manufacture  of  silk,  even  in  the  northern  as  well  as 
middle  provinces  of  the  kingdom,  and  whose  name  is 
held  in  perpetual  remembrance,  for  his  noble  deeds  of 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  159 

goodness,  and  works  of  usefulness.  Olivier  de  Serres 
shares  equally  with  him  the  glory  of  the  effectual  work, 
which  was,  at  first,  opposed  even  by  Sully,  from  mis- 
take and  misapprehension.  Colbert,  in  a  succeeding 
age,  continued  his  fostering  care.  Both  Colbert  and  his 
illustrious  predecessor,  by  bounties  judiciously  bestowed, 
caused  both  the  mulberry  tree  and  its  culture  to  strike 
deep  and  permanent  roots  in  the  soil  of  France. 

Once  established,  it  has  stood,  unmoved  by  every  rev- 
olution and  storm,  unprotected  and  alone,  while  all 
things  else  have  fallen.  This  important  industry  has 
flourished  until,  finally,  silk  and  its  manufacture  has  be- 
come one  of  the  most  productive  resources  of  the  wealth 
and  power  of  France. 

It  was  estimated,  that  in  the  year  1835,  silk  from 
France,  to  the  amount  of  fifty  millions  of  francs,  was 
exported  from  that  country  to  the  United  States  alone. 
Yet,  in  France,  although  they  raise  so  much  silk,  they 
still  import  annually  to  the  amount  of  seventy  millions 
of  francs  of  raw  silk,  or  nearly  one-third  of  all  they  con- 
sume in  their  manufactures. 

In  England,  the  climate,  from  its  humidity,  or  other 
causes,  is  found  to  be  unfitted  to  its  growth.  For  this 
reason  alone,  the  trials  to  raise  it  there  have  failed. 
Yet,  from  1821  to  1828,  according  to  an  authentic 
work  on  the  silk  trade,  they  imported  of  raw  silk,  24,- 
157,658  pounds,  worth  $  120,787,580  ;  of  this  amount 
$59,881,283  came  from  Italy  alone. 

The  sudden  and  extraordinary  extension  of  the  silk 
manufactures,  both  in  France  and  in  England,  has  been 


160  THE    CALIFORNIA 

mainly  ascribed  to  the  machine  invented  in  France,  by 
Mr.  Jacquard ;  then  the  powerful  impulse  thus  given 
has  been  assigned  to  the  Jacquard  loom.  This  loom  is 
stated  to  perform  all  those  labors  which  had  heretofore 
been  confined  to  the  most  skillful  hands,  with  important 
economy  of  time  and  labor  in  the  preliminary  steps ; 
and  is  so  decidedly  superior  to  all  other  looms  for  all 
the  curious  varieties  of  figured  silk  weaving,  that  it  has 
superseded  them  all  throughout  France  and  England. 

Yet,  in  our  own  country,  so  highly  favored  in  all  re- 
spects by  nature,  the  successful  introduction  of  the  silk 
culture  is  mainly  due  to  individual  exertion  ;  but  the  day 
is  not  far  distant,  when  the  cultivation  of  the  mulberry 
and  the  growth  and  manufacture  of  silk  in  the  United 
States  will  become  a  very  important  source  of  wealth  to 
the  nation.  The  work  has  wonderfully  begun,  and  is 
now  taking  deep  and  permanent  root  in  our  soil. 

According  to  the  report  of  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  the  value  of  silk  imported  .into  the  United 
States  during  the  year  ending  the  thirtieth  of  Septem- 
ber, 1835,  amounted  to  $16,597,980,  this  being  the 
original  or  first  cost  in  the  foreign  countries  (this  must 
be  more  than  double  that  amount  now).  During  that 
year  only  $486,562  worth  of  this  great  amount  was  ex- 
ported ;  most  of  it  was  imported  from  Italy,  Switzerland 
and  France. 

The  millions  that  we  are  now  expending  for  importing 
silk  ought  to  be  preserved  in  the  country.  It  would  be 
a  good  policy  to  take  steps  in  view  of  retaining  such  a 
vast  amount,  by  every  means  that  the  Government  has 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  161 

in  its  power.  Such  amounts  would  soon  pay  our  na- 
tional debt ;  it  should  certainly  be  a  good  policy  to  take 
off  duties  from  things  needed  by  the  poor  classes,  and 
have  very  high  duties  on  the  imported  article  manufac- 
tured. I  am  in  hope  that  our  Congressmen  will  under- 
stand their  duty,  which  is  to  have  in  view  the  prosperity 
of  the  country,  by  placing  a  very  high  tariff  on  the 
manufactured  silk  of  importation.  This  will  injure  no- 
body, but  enrich  the  country,  as  the  effect  will  be  to 
start  the  culture  and  manufacture  of  silk  everywhere  in 
the  United  States  where  the  climate  is  favorable.  In 
California  alone  we  can  raise  silk,  not  only  to  supply  the 
whole  wants  of  the  nation,  but  for  the  rest  of  the  world. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

HISTORY   OF   THE   SILKWORM. 

The  silkworm,  or  Bombyx  Mori,  is  a  caterpillar,  its 
body  formed  of  twelve  membranous  rings,  which  sup- 
port the  legs,  which  are  sixteen  in  number,  and  in  pairs. 
Six  of  these  are  in  front  and  inflexible,  and  situated 
beneath  the  first  rings,  and  are  each  covered  with  a 
scale.  The  other  ten  are  flexible  and  membranous, 
having  their  positions  beneath  the  remaining  ring  ;  these 
are  called  climbers  and  holders,  and  are  provided  with 
sharp  hooks  or  claws,  to  aid  in  climbing.  The  head  has 
a  horny  covering  like  a  scale,  the  jaws  are  very  strong, 


162  THE   CALIFORNIA 

the  teeth,  sharp,  serrated,  or  indented  like  a  saw,  the 
mouth  is  vertical  and  peculiar,  and  not  horizontal,  as  in 
most  other  beings.  Two  broad  objects  in  its  forehead, 
which  might  be  mistaken  for  eyes,  are  but  boues  of  the 
skull.  The  eyes  are  small,  fourteen  in  number,  seven  on 
each  side  of  the  head,  and  near  the  mouth ;  the  organs 
of  respiration  are  eighteen  in  number.  Equidistant, 
and  situated  along  the  body,  are  holes,  or  openings,  nine 
on  each  side,  which  serve  for  breathing. 

The  substance  of  which  the  silk  is  composed  is  a 
liquicl,  transparent  gum,  of  a  fine  yellow  color,  and  is 
contained  in  separate  sacks  of  slender  dimensions.  Each 
of  these  vessels  is  about  ten  inches  in  length,  and  wound 
in  the  stomach  in  spiral  folds.  Near  the  jaws,  two 
ducts  convey  the  silken  fluid ;  these,  uniting  in  one, 
serve  to  compose  the  silken  thread,  which  is  usually 
from  four  hundred  to  twelve  hundred  feet  in  length. 

The  eggs  of  the  silkworms  are  of  a  dark  lilac  or  slate 
color.  The  silkworms  are  at  first  black,  and  extremely 
small ;  as  they  advance  in  age  and  size  they  cast  off 
their  outer  covering  or  skin,  usually  from  three  to  four 
times,  at  different  periods,  according  to  the  variety. 
These  successive  changes  are  called  moulting*,  and  the 
times  intervening  are  termed  ayes. 

In  a  colder  temperature  the  duration  of  the  several 
periods  is  prolonged ;  but  in  a  warm  climate,  the  period 
or  season  of  the  first  moulting,  which  terminates  the  first 
age,  usually  occurs  on  the  fifth  or  sixth  day  of  its  ex- 
istence ;  the  second  on  the  eighth  or  ninth  day ;  the 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  163 

third  on  the  thirteenth  or  fourteenth  day,  and  the  last 
on  or  about  the  twenty-second  day. 

At  each  of  these  critical  periods  the  silkworm  remains 
in  a  torpid  state,  eating  little,  or  absolutely  nothing,  for 
a  day  or  more.  At  the  end  of  about  ten  days  from  the 
last  period,  or  in  about  thirty-two  or  thirty-four  days 
from  the  beginning,  the  insect,  now  fully  grown,  is  about 
three  or  four  inches  in  length,  transparent,  of  a  yellow- 
ish white  or  pearl  color.  Having  now  completed  their 
fifth,  or  last  age,  they  eat  no  more,  but  ascend  to  the 
leaves  or  brushwood  which  are  placed  for  the  purpose, 
and  commence  the  formation  of  their  cocoons,  and  in 
the  construction  of  these  the  insects  work  busily  and 
incessantly,  night  and  day,  during  about  four  days.  This 
labor  finished,  the  insect  in  the  center  becomes  trans- 
formed to  the  chrysalis  state. 

The  vitual  functions  of  the  silkworm  are  accelerated 
by  warmth,  and  the  time  occupied  in  passing  through 
the  various  mutations  is  hastened,  not  only  by  the  in- 
creased temperature,  but  materially  by  the  degree  of 
attention  which  is  bestowed  on  the  insects.  In  Madras, 
according  to  Dr.  Anderson,  and  where  the  climate  is 
very  warm,  the  silkworm  passes  through  all  its  evolu- 
tions in  twenty-two  days  ;  here  there  is  a  saving  of  time 
as  well  as  of  labor,  but  none  in  regard  to  food,  as  it  is 
admitted  the  silkworms  consume  the  same  amount  of 
cocoons,  be  the  term  of  their  life  of  a  longer  or  shorter 
duration. 

The  cocoon  is  usually  from  an  inch  to  an  inch  and  a 
half  in  length,  of  an  oval  form,  the  color  yellow  or 


164  THE    CALIFORNIA 

straw,  or  pure  white,  according  to  the  variety.  The 
outer  covering  is  like  the  finest  wool,  and  is  called  /loss. 
It  is  easily  detached,  and  being  removed,  the  end  of  a 
thread  is  discovered,  of  extreme  fineness. 

After  an  interval  of  from  fifteen  to  twenty  days' 
repose,  the  moth  ejects  from  its  mouth  a  liquor  which 
moistens  the  gum,  and  dissolves  the  adhesiveness  of 
the  texture  of  the  ball ;  and  by  frequent  motions  of  its 
head,  it  loosens  and  forces  aside  the  filaments,  without 
sundering  a  single  silken  thread,  until  it  reappears, 
transformed  to  a  large  butterfly,  of  a  greenish  white 
color,  with  four  wings  ;  two  eyes,  and  two  black  feathery 
horns  or  plumes  ;  unshrouded  in  this  its  last  and  perfect 
form.  Both  male  and  female,  they  come  forth  to  the 
light  of  the  day,  and  take  no  food  to  the  day  of  their 

death. 

> 

The  butterflies  generally  come  out  of  their  cocoons 
between  seven  and  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning.  At 
that  time  they  have  to  be  paired,  and  in  the  afternoon 
at  about  five  o'clock,  they  should  be  separated.  In 
all  cases,  they  must  be  handled  by  the  wings,  with 
care,  so  as  not  to  hurt  them.  As  soon  as  separated  from 
the  male,  the  female  begins  to  lay  the  eggs.  Each 
female  is  supposed  to  lay  about  three  hundred,  and 
sometimes  more.  These  eggs  firmly  adhere  to  the 
paper  on  which  they  are  ;  and  are  arranged  in  a  hand- 
some and  circular  form.  In  a  few  days  after  its  multi- 
farious labors  are  ended,  the  insect  dies. 

The  silkworms  remain  in  a  chrysalis  state  a  length  of 
time  corresponding  with  the  temperature  of  the  climate. 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  165 

In  England  they  remain  thirty  days  ;  in  France,  twenty- 
one  ;  in  Spain  and  Italy,  eighteen  or  twenty ;  in  our 
Middle  States,  about  the  same  ;  in  California,  twelve  to 
fourteen  ;  and  in  India,  but  eleven  days. 

The  silkworm,  like  other  caterpillars,  is  a  cold-blooded 
insect ;  its  temperature  is  that  of  the  atmosphere  in 
which  it  breathes.  Sudden  changes  from  cold  to  heat 
are  very  injurious,  yet  it  has  been  found  that  the  silk- 
worm is  capable  of  enduring  a  great  degree  of  heat. 
I  have  remarked  them  to  be  very  lively  when  my  ther- 
mometer was  from  eighty  to  one  hundred,  and  some 
days  as  high  as  one  hundred  and  seven.  This  heat 
ought  to  have  been  maintained  as  uniformly  as  possible, 
yet  it  was  impossible  in  my  garret.  Such  a  degree 
they  must  have  sometimes  endured  in  their  native 
forests.  But  when  they  need  more  heat,  it  is  at  the 
moment  of  making  their  cocoons.  If  at  any  time  while 
they  are  performing  this  most  important  labor  they  are 
permitted  to  suffer  from  cold,  they  cease  from  their 
labors,  and  remain  inactive,  or  move  but  slowly,  as  may 
be  discovered  while  the  cocoons  are  yet  transparent. 
It  has  been  proved,  on  dissection  of  the  silkworms  which 
thus  suffer  and  become  torpid  through  cold,  that  the 
glutinous  matter  in  their  silk  reservoirs  had  become  so 
congealed  and  tenacious  from  cold,  as  to  resemble 
strong  tendons,  which  sufficiently  accounted  for  the 
inability  of  the  insect  to  draw  forth  the  silken  filament ; 
yet  no  sooner  is  the  temperature  increased,  than  they 
will  resume  their  labors  with  increased  activity  ;  but 
will  again  desist,  if  exposed  again  to  cold.  If  neg- 


THK    CALIFORNIA 

lected  at  this  critical  period,  they  assume  in  due  time 
the  chrysalis  form,  but  for  want  of  sufficient  strength 
leave  incomplete  their  silken  tomb. 

Many  persons  have  erroneously  imagined  that  li^ht 
is  injurious  to  the  silkworm ;  but  the  very  reverse  of  a 
belief  so  contrary  to  nature,  is  evidently  true.  In  its 
native  state,  it  is  of  course  habituated  to  the  most  per- 
fect light ;  indeed,  a  due  proportion  of  the  reviving 
light  of  day  has  been  found  essentially  necessary  to  its 
perfect  health.  In  the  perfect  light  of  day,  when  the 
sun  shines,  the  leaves  of  the  mulberry  and  other  trees 
inhale  vital  air,  or  that  pure,  etherial  substance,  which 
by  being  inhaled,  gives  life  and  heat  to  the  animal  sys- 
tem ;  while  in  the  darkness,  they  evolve  mephitic  air, 
which  is  destructive  and  incapable  of  affording  nourish- 
ment. 

Although  the  silkworm  will  endure  a  great  degree  of 
heat,  yet  when  this  heat  is  combined  with  excessive 
moisture,  the  effect  appears  to  be  at  least  as  deleterious 
to  the  insect  as  mephitic  air.  If  a  silkworm  be  con- 
fined in  a  close  vessel,  surcharged  with  moisture  and 
heated  to  eighty-eight  or  ninety  degrees,  it  will  soon 
reject  food  and  show  strong  symptoms  of  distress ; 
the  muscles  will  soften,  and  evaporation  will  become 
obstructed ;  the  power  of  contraction,  which  resides  in 
the  skin,  and  which  governs  the  secretions,  which  are 
indispensably  necessary  to  its  existence,  will  cease,  and 
it  will  shortly  perish ;  while  a  warm-blooded  animal,  if 
sufficiently  supplied  with  pure  atmospheric  air,  will 
endure  an  equal  degree  of  heat,  combined  with  an 


or 

DIVERSITY 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL. 

equal  degree  of  moisture  with  but  little  inconvenience. 

But  if  a  silkworm  be  introduced  into  a  jar  charged 
with  carbonic  acid  gas,  which  would  cause  a  bird  or 
any  other  warm-blooded  animal  to  die  instantly,  although 
the  worm  will  soon  exhibit  signs  of  suffering,  yet  it  will 
live  from  ten  to  twenty  minutes ;  and  on  being  with- 
drawn from  the  receiver,  in  due  time  it  will  exhibit  no 
signs  of  injury,  but  be  apparently  as  healthy  as  before. 

Some  have  supposed  that  noise  disconcerts  them ; 
but  this  appears  to  be  a  mistake,  or  at  least  not  suffi- 
ciently proved :  on  the  contrary,  the  experiments  of 
the  Abbe"  Rosier,  in  France,  tend  to  show  that  it  does 
not  trouble  them  at  all. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE   MULBERRY — (Morus). 

The  Mulberry,  or  Morus  of  the  botanists,  is  a  genus 
comprising  many  species.  It  derives  its  name  from 
mor  ;  in  Celtic,  Hack.  Its  origin  has  been  assigned  to 
China,  but  several,  species  have  been  found  growing 
in  the  wild  state  in  America. 

It  was  cultivated  at  a  very  early  period  of  time,  in 
western  Asia,  and  in  Europe  ;  but  at  first  only  for  its 
fruit.  This  is  a  berry  of  a  roundish  and  oblong  form  ; 
in  color  varying  from  white  to  red  and  black  ;  its  pulp 
envelops  numerous  small  seeds. 


168  THE   CALIFORNIA 

Most  of  the  varieties  of  the  mulberry  are  esteemed 
dessert  fruit.  When  perfectly  mature,  they  are  grate- 
ful to  the  taste,  and  very  wholesome.  The  syrup  is 
useful  in  mitigating  inflammation  of  the  heart ;  the  juice, 
when  perfectly  fermented,  affords  a  pleasant  vinous 
wine ;  mixed  with  apples,  it  makes  a  delicious  beverage 
called  mulberry  cider,  of  a  deep  red  color,  like  port 
wine. 

The  wood  of  the  mulberry  is  compact,  elastic,  and 
hard,  and  susceptible  of  a  fine  polish  ;  it  is,  therefore, 
sought  after  by  the  upholsterer,  the  carver,  and  the 
turner.  The  strength  of  the  timber  renders  it  valuable 
to  the  joiner,  and  also  for  building  boats ;  its  power  of 
resisting  the  action  of  the  water,  has  been  compared  to 
that  of  the  oak. 

The  roots  of  the  mulberry  tree  are  of  a  yellow  color 
and  strike  downwards,  and  the  tree  is  extremely  long- 
lived.  Mr.  De  Saint  Fond  saw,  in  1802,  one  of  the 
original  or  parent  trees  of  all  the  white  mulberry  trees 
of  France,  which  the  followers  of  Charles  VIII  had 
Brought  from  Italy,  on  his  invasion  of  that  country  in 
1494.  Mr.  Lachaux  has  caused  this  tree  to  be  encom- 
passed by  a  wall,  to  evince  his  respect  and  veneration, 
and  to  serve  as  a  monument  to  a  tree  so  inestimable. 

Whoever  would  enter  extensively  and  at  once  on  the 
cultivation  of  silk,  let  him  first  of  all  bestow  his  atten- 
tion on  the  culture  of  the  abundant  supplies  of  food ; 
this  principal  and  essential  food  being  no  other  than  the 
material  leaves  of  the  various  species  of  the  mulberry 
tree.  Not  every  kind,  however,  is  equally  suitable. 


1(59 

Linnaeus  has  enumerated  seven  species  of  those  which 
were  known  in  his  day ;  and  among  these  there  are 
two  species,  the  Tinctoria  and  Indica,  which  are  not 
used  as  the  food  of  the  silkworm.  Those  most  esteemed 
and  known  are  the  Morus  Alba^  or  white  mulberry,  the 
Moms  Multicaulis  or  Chinese  mulberry  and  the  Morus 
Moretti.  I  will,  then,  describe  only  these  three  varie- 
ties, as  being  the  best. 

The  nourishment  which  is  contained  in  the  mulberry 
leaf  is  not  completely  developed  till  the  leaf  is  fully 
grown.  According  to  the  analysis  of  Count  Dandolo,  the 
leaf  contains  :  1st,  the  fibrous  substance  ;  2d,  the  color- 
ing matter ;  3d,  water  ;  4th,  the  saccharine  substance  ; 
5th,  the  resinous  substance.  The  saccharine  substance 
is  that  which  nourishes  the  insect,  augmenting  its 
growth  and  size ;  the  resinous,  that  which  "  separating 
itself  gradually  from  the  leaf,  and  attracted  by  the  ani- 
mal organization,  accumulates,  cleans  itself,  and  insensi- 
bly fills  the  two  reservoirs  or  silk  vessels. "  The  propor- 
tion of  this  nutriment  depends  upon  the  variety  of  the 
mulberry,  the  age,  the  soil,  and  the  moisture  or  dryness 
of  the  season.  Now,  I  will  describe  the  three  best 
varieties  of  mulberry  trees  for  silk  raising. 

First,  MORUS  MULTICAULIS,  or  Chinese  mulberry, 
or  also  many-stalked  mulberry.  The  tree  grows 
vigorous,  upright,  and  beautiful ;  the  leaves,  large, 
soft,  and  tender,  are  petiolate,  cordate,  accuinissate, 
serrated  towards  the  summit,  marked  with  nerves, 
always  entire.  Their  upper  surface  is  convex  or 
curled,  of  a  deep  and  beautiful  shining  green.  The 


170  THIv    CALIFORNIA 

form  and  dimensions  of  the  leaf  vary  in  different  soils  ; 
in  a  dry  and  arid  soil,  they  are  of  a  diminished  size  ; 
their  form  elliptical,  and  without  the  heart-shaped  indent- 
ation at  the  base ;  their  breadth  being  six  inches,  and 
their  length  eight ;  but  in  a  light,  rich,  and  friable  soil, 
the  produce  of  the  foliage  is  most  abundant ;  the  leaves 
large  and  cordiform,  measuring  often  more  than  a  foot 
in  breadth  and  fifteen  inches  in  length. 

That  variety  is  sometimes  called  the  Perrotet  Mul- 
berry, in  honor  of  Mr.  Perrotet,  agricultural  botanist 
and  traveler  of  the  marine  and  colonies  of  France,  who 
has  introduced  this  plant  into  Europe.  Mr.  Perrotet 
has  been  sent  out  by  the  Government  of  France  on  a 
voyage  of  botanical  research,  a  national  ship  having 
been  provided  especially  for  his  use.  This  tree  was 
first  discovered  by  him  at  Manila,  the  capital  of  the 
Philippine  Islands,  whither  it  had  been  brought  by  the 
Chinese  from  China,  as  a  tree  of  ornament  as  well  as  of 
usefulness.  The  Chinese  are  justly  entitled  to  the  credit 
of  its  introduction  hither.  From  Manila  the  morns 
multicaulis  was  first  introduced  by  Mr.  Perrotet  to  the 
Isle  of  Bourbon,  and  from  thence  into  Cayenne  ;  and, 
finally,  it  was  brought  by  him  to  France  in  1821. 

The  morus  multicaulis  differs  from  all  others  in  the 
uncommon  vigor  of  its  growth,  and  the  property  which 
the  roots  possess  of  throwing  up  numerous  flexible  stalks, 
the  great  length  which  these  stalks  acquire  in  a  short 
space  of  time,  and  the  facility  with  which  it  is  propa- 
gated from  layers  and  cuttings ;  also  from  the  remark- 
able size  which  the  thin,  soft,  and  tender  leaves  speedily 


acquire,  and  the  promptitude  with  which  they  are  re- 
newed. 

The  fruit  is  long,  black,  and  of  good  flavor.  This 
mulberry  should  be  cultivated  low  in  rows,  and  never 
suffered  to  rise  high.  A  few  years  will  be  sufficient  to 
raise  considerable  fields  of  it  in  full  vigor  in  California, 
sufficient  to  support  an  immense  quantity  of  silkworms. 

Second,  MORUS  ALBA,  or  white  mulberry,  a  native  of 
China,  but  for  centuries  naturalized  in  Italy,  and  there- 
fore also  called  the  Italica.  This  tree  is  of  rapid 
growth,  and  extensively  known  for  the  uses  of  its  leaf 
as  the  food  of  silkworms.  The  leaves  are  pointed,  cor- 
date, serrate,  entire,  or  lobed,  but  vary  in  the  different 
sub-varieties,  sometimes  even  in  the  same  tree,  in  dif- 
ferent ages,  being  at  times  lobed,  when  young,  but  when 
old,  entire ;  and  very  often  they  are  entire  and  lobed  on 
the  same  tree  at  the  same  time. 

The  bark  of  the  wood  is  of  an  ash  color.  The  fruit 
is  white,  roundish,  oblong,  of  an  insipid  taste.  The  tree, 
as  before  noted,  is  valuable  for  its  timber,  and  exceed- 
ingly long-lived.  In  cold  climates  it  grows  slowly,  yet 
its  growth  is  more  rapid,  and  it  comes  into  leaf  earlier 
than  the  morus  nigra,  and  is  not,  like  that  variety,  in- 
commoded by  a  profusion  of  fruit ;  and  although  the 
black  mulberry  is  preferred  in  Persia,  Count  Dandolo 
affirms  that  the  white  mulberry  was  found  to  produce 
the  finest  silk  of  the  kind  known  in  Italy.  It  is  also  af- 
firmed, that  if  the  leaves  of  this  species,  and  those  of  the 
rubra  and  nigra,  be  presented  to  the,  insect  at  the  same- 
time,  it  will  eat  first  the  white,  next  of  the  red,  and  last 


172  mi;  CALIFORNIA 

of  all,  the  black.  In  Malta,  the  white  mulberry  grows 
much  more  rapidly  than  in  Italy  ;  but,  in  India,  where 
the  mulberry  tree  is  an  evergreen,  its  growth  issorajiid 
that  large  quantities  are  sown  and  mown  in  the  same 
season,  and  from  these,  sprouts  are  again  produced  for 
a  second  brood  of  silkworms.  Varieties  are  known  in 
silk  countries  which  are  produced  from  the  white  mul- 
berry, and  are  only  to  be  extended  by  layers  or  cut- 
tings. 

The  bark,  according  to  Rosier,  may  be  converted  into 
linen  of  the  fineness  of  silk.  For  this  purpose,  the  young 
wood  is  gathered  in  autumn,  during  the  ascent  of  the 
second  sap,  and  immersed  for  three  or  four  days  in  still 
water ;  it  is  then  taken  out  at  sunset,  spread  on  the 
grass,  and  returned  to  the  water  at  sunrise ;  and  this 
being  daily  repeated,  it  is  finally  prepared  and  spun  like 
flax. 

By  a  letter  that  I  have  received  lately  from  one  of 
the  great  silk  growers  in  France,  I  see  that  the  white 
mulberry  continues  to  have  the  preference  over  all  other 
varieties,  and  is  now  extensively  cultivated  there. 

Third,  MORUS  MORETTI.  This  new  and  valuable  variety 
of  mulberry  was  first  discovered  about  the  year  1815, 
by  Mr.  Moretti,  Professor  in  the  University  of  Pa  via  ; 
and  from  a  single  young  tree,  he  had,  in  1826,  multi- 
plied them  to  120,000.  The  leaf  is  ovate,  sharp  pointed, 
entire,  cordate  at  the  base  ;  it  is  thin,  smooth  on  the 
under  and  especially  on  the  upper  surface,  which  is  of 
a  beautiful  and  rather  deep  shining  green ;  it  is  not  so 
thick  as  that  of  the  large  white  mulberry,  called,  in 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  173 

France,  the  admirable,  and  it  is  thinner  than  those  of 
the  Spanish  mulberry,  morns  nigra.  It  is  neither 
wrinkled  nor  plaited,  is,  in  general,  ten  inches  wide  and 
twelve  inches  long.  The  fruit,  which  is  at  the  first  vio- 
let, becomes  at  maturity  perfectly  black,  but  is  some- 
times white.  This  mulberry  will  be  most  profitably  cul- 
tivated in  the  form  of  a  hedge,  and  from  the  remarka- 
ble size  of  its  leaves  they  are  gathered  with  the  greatest 
facility.  Their  superior  quality  has  been  proved  by  the 
experiments  of  Mr.  Gera  and  Count  Dandolo,  who  assert 
that  "  they  produce  silk  of  a  more  beautiful  gloss  and 
finer  quality  than  common  silk." 

It  is  well  established  that  the  morus  alba  is  the  vari- 
ety cultivated  for  silk  nearly  everywhere,  and  isN  gener- 
ally considered  as  producing  the  best  silk  ;  but  after  my 
own  observation,  my  opinion  is  that  the  moretti  will  be 
the  very  best  variety  for  California,  for  many  reasons. 
First,  I  remarked  it  to  be  a  very  vigorous  and  strong 
grower,  wherever  I  have  met  it  in  the  State  ;  it  is  also 
more  hardy  than  others.  Second,  as  it  is  an  improved 
variety  of  the  alba,  it  is  very  easy  to  understand  why  it 
produces  silk  of  a  superior  gloss.  Third,  because  one 
of  its  large,  thick,  substantial  leaves  contains  as  much 
food  as  a  half  dozen  of  the  others,  and,  consequently, 
the  whole  tree  produces  more  in  proportion.  Fourth, 
the  thickness  of  its  leaves  is  the  cause  that  they  do  not 
wilt  so  fast,  and  keep  fresh  a  longer  time,  and  they  af- 
ford the  worms  plenty  of  time  to  eat  the  whole.  This 
last  point  ought  to  be  taken  into  consideration  under  the 
influence  of  our  dry  atmosphere.  All  the  above  quali- 


174  TI1E   CALIFORNIA 

ties  of  that  fine  variety  will  certainly  be  appreciated  by 
our  silk  growers,  and  I  should  not  be  surprised  to  see 
it,  in  a  short  time,  very  extensively  cultivated  through- 
out California. 

This,  and  the  alba,  and  also  the  multicaulis,  are  the 
principal  varieties  that  we  should  cultivate  for  silk  in 
California,  because  it  is  fully  demonstrated  and  known 
that  they  produce  the  best  quality  of  silk  ;  and,  besides 
that  important  point,  there  is  another.  We  are  satisfied 
that  these  three  varieties  thrive  most  luxuriantly  in  our 
Bilk  State,  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain  in  different 
parts  of  the  State,  in  my  travelings  for  the  silk  cause. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE   SOIL. 

Without  fear  of  being  contradicted,  I  think  that  I 
can  say  here,  that  in  California  we  possess,  hot  only  one 
of  the  best,  but  the  very  best  soil  for  the  mulberry  tree. 
For  my  part,  I  never  before  saw  mulberry  trees  with 
such  a  growth  as  they  have  in  California.  In  regard 
to  soil,  in  one  of  my  letters  to  the  "  California  Farmer  " 
I  wrote  thus : 

"  To  all  who  are  about  to  start  in  that  rich  industry 
I  desire  to  say  for  their  benefit,  that  the  most  important 
point  to  begin  with,  is  the  selection  of  the  soil  for  the 
mulberry.  It  is  a  fact,  that  it  grows  almost  anywhere 


175 

in  California,  but,  more  or  less,  a  deep,  rich,  light, 
loamy  soil  is  needed.  In  such  a  soil,  we  can  obtain  as 
much  food  from  one  acre  as  from  two  or  three  of  other 
soils.  In  that  mulberry  soil,  trees  seven  years  old 
measure  from  two  to  three  feet  in  circumference  ;  shoots 
one  year  old  are  from  ten  to  twelve  feet  long,  and  we 
have  any  amount  in  all  the  valleys  of  California.  I 
have  remarked  a  great  quantity  of  it  in  our  beautiful 
and  healthy  valley  of  San  Jose*,  but  have  observed  it 
more  generally  in  the  Sacramento  Valley.  We  can  say 
that  we  have  hundreds  of  thousands  of  acres  of  such 
soil  in  California.  The  quantity  of  silk  that  we  can  pro- 
duce is  incalculable ;  we  could  supply  the  whole  world 
with  the  article.'* 

But  I  do  not  mean  by  the  above  to  impress  on  any- 
body that  valley  land  is  alone  suitable  for  the  mulberry, 
as  I  have  observed  along  our  foothills,  and  even  on  the 
hills,  very  fine  mulberry  soil ;  arid  I  would  also  recom- 
mend to  those  who  have  plantations  there,  to  select  al- 
ways the  soil,  and  give  it  a  deep  plowing,  and  plant 
early. 

In  Europe,  it  is  on  the  hills  that  they  generally  ob- 
tain their  best  silk,  but  they  have  rain  there  often,  which 
stimulates  the  growth  of  their  mulberry  trees  planted  in 
the  mountains  ;  and  it  is  very  easy  to  understand  why 
the  silk  from  the  mountains  is  better  than  that  produced 
in  the  valleys.  But  by  doing,  in  regard  to  mountain 
soil,  as  I  have  said  before,  I  have  no  doubt  that  we  will 
succeed,  and  I  will  earnestly  recommend  it  to  be  tried. 
In  case  of  success,  we  shall  certainly  obtain  there  a  very 


176  THE  CALIFORNIA 

superior  article.  Sunny  exposures  on  the  declivities  of 
hills  must  be  preferred  ;  those  especially  which  slope  to 
the  south  and  east  are  the  most  favorable. 

The  cocoons  of  mountainous  countries  are  deemed 
superior  to  those  of  the  plains  ;  although  not  so  large, 
they  are  usually  of  a  whiter  color.  Trees  planted  in 
the  hills  are  neither  exposed  to  suffer  from  the  early  and 
later  frosts,  nor  are  the  leaves  liable  to  become  spotted 
or  diseased  from  mildew. 

One  of  the  principal  things  we  must  have  in  view  to 
succeed  well,  is  the  preparation  of  the  soil  in  which  to 
plant  our  trees.  The  soil,  before  planting,  must  be 
thoroughly  and  deeply  cultivated,  because  the  roots  of 
the  mulberry  tree  strike  downward,  and  consequently 
need  a  deep  plowing. 

But,  in  regard  to  the  preparation  of  the  soil  in  Cali- 
fornia, there  is  nothing  better  than  the  admirable  ad- 
dress of  G.  N.  Sweezey,  Esq.,  delivered  before  the 
Northern  District  Agricultural  Society  at  Marysville,  on 
the  4th  of  September  last.  I  cut  from  the  "  California 
Farmer  "  the  following  paragraph  : 

"  Having  built  my  house  and  out  buildings  and  done 
my  fencing,  or  before,  if  not  prepared  to  fence,  I  would 
in  the  mouth  of  March  or  first  of  April,  with  suitable 
teams,  proceed  to  fallow  the  lands  I  designed  for  my 
orchard,  vineyard,  shade  trees,  grain,  and  pastures,  at 
least  so  much  as  I  could  conveniently  put  in  the  fol- 
lowing fall  and  spring.  In  ploughing  these  lands  for  fal- 
lows I  should  run  the  plough  to  the  beam  of  subsoil, 
which  would  be  the  best.  The  deeper  these  lands  are 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  177 

ploughed  the  more  productive  they  will  be,  and  the 
greater  amount  of  moisture  they  will  retain.  Here, 
you  will  find,  is  the  great  secret  in  treating  and  culti- 
vating these  dry  lands.  They  must  be  ploughed  deep 
and  rendered  loose  and  friable  in  order  to  retain  mois- 
ture. If  allowed  to  harden  and  bake  and  crack,  the 
evaporation  passes  off  as  does  that  from  water  poured 
upon  a  heap  of  bricks  ;  but  if  the  soil  is  well  pulverized, 
it  will  hold  moisture  like  a  sponge,  and  retard  and  re- 
tain the  evaporation  constantly  passing  upwards,  and 
what  is  more,  will  allow  the  tender  roots  and  fibers  to 
permeate  the  soil  in  every  direction,  licking  up  the 
moisture,  and  to  penetrate  down  to  where  the  soil  is 
damp  and  cool.  At  the  same  time  I  am  ploughing  my 
fallow  I  would  procure  my  grapes  and  other  cuttings, 
preparatory  to  rooting  them  for  the  next  spring's  plant- 
ing. I  will  have  to  prepare  these  myself,  for  if  I  pur- 
chase nursery  plants  as  now  prepared,  my  labor  will  be 
in  vain,  as  the  ground  to  be  planted  will  be  dry  before 
they  have  commenced  sprouting  deeper  down  than  such 
plants  can  be  set.  These  plants  I  will  make  from 
twenty-four  to  thirty  inches  long,  and  will  put  them  out 
in  nursery  rows,  laying  them  almost  horizontally  in  the 
soil,  so  that  the  end  designed  to  root  shall  not  be  more 
than  six  inches  under  ground,  while  the  other  end 
protrudes  not  over  two  buds.  In  this  way  I  shall  ob- 
tain a  long  plant,  when  rooted,  which  I  should  not  do 
if  they  were  placed  perpendicularly  in  any  soil  adapted 
for  nursery  purposes,  as  such  soil  is  cold  and  wet  at  a 


178  THE   CALIFORNIA 

small   depth  below,  and  would   consequently  rot  the 
cuttings  within  six  or  eight  inches  of  the  surface." 

That  address  is  a  veiy  important  document,  and  e\vrv 
farmer  ought  to  have  it.  But  I  only  put  here  simj»lv 
what  concerns  the  preparation  of  the  soil,  as  it  com- 
pletely suits  my  views;  because  mulberry  trees  will 
certainly  do  pretty  well  in  a  soil  prepared  as  above. 

I  think  I  have  said  enough  to  make  everyone  un<lor- 
stand  that  the  soil  in  which  you  intend  to  plant  your 
mulberry  trees  must  be  well  and  deeply  cultivated,  as 
by  all  I  know  and  what  I  have  seen,  deep  ploughin 
indispensable  in  California,  in  order  to  retain  a  pr« 
moisture  through  our  dry  season.     It  is  the  <-h< -a] ,» -st 
way,  as  it  saves  you  the  labor  of  irrigating,  and  is  ten 
times  preferable. 


CHAPTER  VH. 

MULBERRY    CULTURE. 

The  mulberry  tree  is  propagated  by  seeds,  by  cut- 
tings or  slips,  by  layers,  and  in  Europe  also  sometimes 
by  grafting;  but  I  think  that  we  have  no  need  of 
grafting  in  California,  where  the  mulberry  is  so  easy  to 
grow,  easier  even  than  the  willow. 

First,  BY  SEEDS.  The  seeds  are  obtained  by  washing 
the  bruised  pulp  of  thoroughly  ripened  fruit.  The  trees 
that  are  left  for  that  purpose  must  be  shaken  every  day ; 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  179 

the  fruit  is  mashed  in  a  tub  with  water  till  thoroughly 
incorporated,  and  the  mass,  being  largely  diluted,  is 
poured  off,  its  place  being  supplied  by  new  quantities-, 
till  the  water  comes  off  clear  and  the  seed  perfectly 
clean.  It  is  then  dried  on  cloths  in  the  shade,  and  when 
perfectly  dry,  it  is  preserved  and  kept  in  a  dry,  cool 
place. 

Good  mulberry  seed  will  sink  to  the  bottom  after 
steeping  a  short  time  in  water,  and  one  ounce  will  usu- 
ally produce  from  eight  to  ten  thousand  plants.  Pre- 
vious to  sowing,  the  seeds  should  be  soaked  twenty- 
four  hours  in  tepid  water,  then  mixed  with  fine,  moist 
sand,  and  exposed  to  a  moderately  warm  temperature, 
and  sown  as  soon  as  they  commence  to  germinate. 
Take  the  mixture  (seed  and  sand)  and  sow  them  im- 
mediately in  well-prepared,  fine  soil,  kept  free  from 
weeds. 

They  do  better  in  drills,  and  are  easier  to  take  care 
.  of.  The  rows  should  be  from  two  to  three  feet  asunder, 
and  the  seed  planted  at  an  average  distance  of  about 
half  an  inch.  Cover  them  but  half  an  inch  deep  ;  press 
tlfe  earth  a  little,  so  that  it  may  retain  sufficient  moisture 
at  its  surface. 

The  best  time  for  sowing  will  vary  much  in  California 
according  to  the  locality ;  the  farmer  will  have  to  ex- 
ercise his  own  judgment  about  it,  because  we  have 
many  places  where  there  is  frost,  and  plenty  others 
where  there  is  none.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that 
when  young  trees  begin  to  spring  out  through  the  earth 
they  are  very  tender,  and  the  least  frost  would  kill  them. 


180       \.  THE   CALIFORNIA 

Then  I  would  advise  those  that  are  in  a  locality  where 
there  is  no  frost,  to  sow  some  time  in  January  or  hoirin- 
ning  of  February,  so  that  the  young  trees  may  be  1 
efited  by  the  rains ;  they  will  then  make  a  fine  growth 
through  the  season.  And  to  those  who  live  in  a  locality 
subject  to  frost,  I  would  say :  sow  in  the  spring  when 
the  frost  is  over ;  but  it  will  then  require  close  attention 
to  keep  your  rows  sufficiently  sprinkled  till  they  are  a 
few  inches  high ;  but  as  January  and  February  are  the 
best  months  in  which  to  sow  the  seed  in  order  to  have 
good  trees  through  the  season,  it  can  be  done  in  our 
frosty  localities.  But  now  that  you  know  the  danger, 
you  understand  very  well  that  it  is  necessary  to  pro- 
tect the  young  plants  coming  out  against  the  frost. 
We  have  such  light  frosts  here,  in  this  country,  that 
they  are  only  dangerous  for  very  young  seedling  trees 
at  the  time  they  are  coming  out  and  very  tender,  be- 
cause when  they  are  five  or  six  inches  high,  the  frost 
never  injures  the  trees  any  more. 

When  your  young  trees  are  coming  out,  you  must 
hoe  with  care  between  the  rows  and  weed  carefully 
during  summer ;  thin  them  out  where  needed,  and,  if 
your  seedlings  have  been  well  taken  care  of,  you  will 
have  in  the  fall  fine  young  trees  that  you  can  transplant 
where  they  are  to  grow. 

Second,  HY  CUTTINGS.  This  is  the  best  and  surest 
way  to  propagate  the  mulberry,  because  they  are  not 
subject  here  to  be  injured  by  frost,  or  hot  sun,  or  any- 
thing else.  In  this  way  you  can  propagate  more  largely 
the  best  varieties  of  mulberry,  whereas  by  seed  you 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  181 

cannot,  as  they  vary  very  much,  and  from  twenty  you 
can  hardly  find  two  that  look  alike. 

As  to  the  old  way  of  making  cuttings  and  planting 
them,  every  one  knows  ;  but  in  this  part  of  the  culture, 
as  in  all  the  rest,  we  have  to  work  according  to  the 
locality  we  are  in  and  the  climate  we  are  under.  The 
old  way  of  making  cuttings,  with  one-third  sticking  out 
above  the  ground,  I  consider  very,  bad  under  our  dry 
atmosphere,  to  which  tops  are  exposed.  The  action  of 
that  dry  atmosphere  and  of  our  burning  sun  dries  them 
and  kills  a  great  many,  as  the  cutting  is  simply  a  piece 
of  wood  with  no  roots  to  supply  it  with  moisture. 

For  the  benefit  of  all,  I  will  here  note  the  result  of  my 
observations  on  that  subject.  Have  your  cuttings  about 
six  or  eight  inches  long,  the  tops  cut  near  one  eye  or 
bud ;  plant  deep  enough  to  have  the  top  covered  about 
half  an  inch.  This  is  sufficient  to  prevent  the  action  of 
the  sun,  etc.,  and  in  this  way  you  will  have  them  all 
grow,  if  planted  in  a  proper  soil ;  that  soil  I  have  de- 
scribed before.  You  must  not  forget  that  for  the  cut- 
tings also  the  soil  must  be  well  prepared. 

Now,  at  the  beginning  of  the  silk  culture,  what  do 
we  need?  Plenty  of  mulberry  trees.  My  new  and 
simple  way  of  planting  cuttings  (I  may  say,  according 
to  our  climate)  will  greatly  help  to  secure  that  result ; 
and  I  hope  that  it  will  give  a  great  impulse  to  the  mul- 
berry culture,  as  we  can  propagate  it  fast  without  any 
trouble. 

Another  advantage  of  propagating  the  mulberry  by 
•  cuttings  is,  that  it  is  a  stronger  grower,  and,  conse- 


182  THE   CALIFORNIA 

quently,  will  allow  to  begin  to  feed  from  them  the  first 
year,  and  thus  pay  for  their  cost. 

If  you  plant  your  cuttings  in  a  nursery  to  be  trans- 
planted the  year  after,  the  rows  must  be  from  three  to 
four  feet  asunder,  and  the  cuttings  in  the  rows  six  or 
eight  inches  apart.  But  in  a  good  mulberry  soil,  in 
selecting  the  best  cuttings  and  planting  them,  as  I  say 
above,  I  think  that  there  would  be  no  danger  to  plant 
them  at  once  where  they  have  to  grow.  Yet,  in  what- 
ever way,  you  must  take  care  of  your  cuttings,  not  allow 
the.  weeds  to  grow,  pass  the  cultivator  between  the  rows, 
and  hoe  carefully,  remembering  that  the  cuttings  must 
not  be  touched  before  they  have  good  roots,  because  if 
you  hit  them  any  way,  you  break  the  young  and  very 
tender  roots  and  prevent  them  from  growing.  Keep 
the  surface  of  the  ground  loose  by  working  it,  and  it 
will  retain  a  sufficient  moisture ;  but  in  some  localities 
and  soils,  if  it  is  too  dry,  give  them  water.  Your  care 
and  attention  will  be  well  compensated  by  the  good 
growth  of  your  cuttings. 

Third,  BY  LAYERS.  According  to  our  California  cul- 
ture, the  trees  have  to  be  cut  only  a  few  inches  from 
the  ground  to  make  them  branch  out  more  freely ;  this 
will  greatly  favor  the  propagation  by  layers.  I  have 
observed  that  the  mulberry  tree  is  easier  to  grow  from 
layers  than  many  other  trees  ;  then  it  does  not  require 
so  much  trouble  or  work  for  the  bending  of  the  branches. 

I  would  recommend  simply  to  do  thus  :  have  your 
branches  all  round  the  trees  you  wish  to  propagate,  laid 
out  horizontally,  covered  about  two  inches  deep,  their 


183 

extreme  ends  only  being  left  out ;  many  branches  will 
require  a  hook  to  keep  them  down  to  their  places. 
After  the  branch  is  covered  with  fresh  earth,  pressed 
down  to  it,  the  operation  is  done. 

The  result  of  having  young  layers  fixed  in  this  man- 
ner, will  be  that  nearly  every  eye  will  produce  a  tree, 
with  plenty  of  roots,  if  they  are  in  a  good  mulberry 
soil,  and  kept  with  sufficient  moisture.  I  would  recom- 
mend to  have  that  operation  done  early,  say  in  Febru- 
ary, although  it  could  be  done  after  that  time.  In  the 
following  fall  you  take  them  up,  and  with  your  prun- 
ing shears  separate  the  trees,  and  you  will  be  aston- 
ished at  the  quantity  produced  in  that  way ;  then  we 
will  soon  have  enough  mulberry  trees  to  plant  the  State 
all  over,  by  these  different  modes  of  propagating. 

Everything  considered,  it  is  my  opinion  that  we  have 
no  other  tree  so  easily  propagated  in  California  as  the 
mulberry.  Then  we  have  no  reason  to  look  for  any 
substitute,  as  it  is  well  established  and  demonstrated 
that  it  is  the  very  best  and  most  natural  food  of  the 
silkworm ;  besides,  the  fact  is  also  well  demonstrated 
by  nature,  as  no  insect  can  live  upon  its  leaves,  but 
the  silkworm. 


184  THE   CALIFORNIA 


CHAPTER  VHI. 

PLANTATION    OF     THE     MULBERRY,    ACCORDING    TO   OUR 
CALIFORNIA   SILK   CULTURE. 

Before  thinking  to  raise  any  silkworms,  we  have  first 
to  plant  the  mulberry.  I  have  shown  before  what  soil 
must  be  selected  to  plant  it ;  and  how  to  prepare  that 
soil,  and  also  the  different  modes  of  propagating  it; 
and  in  this  last  part  I  add  the  results  of  my  obser- 
vations in  California,  by  which  we  can  come  in  a  very 
short  time  to  have  mulberry  trees  enough  in  California 
to  cover  the  whole  State. 

The  mulberry  tree  is,  of  course,  but  little  known  in 
this  country,  so  recent  is  the  awakened  interest  in  its 
culture  ;  but  it  will  certainly  prove  to  us  a  source  of 
great  wealth,  and  it  should  receive  the  attention  that 
it  merits.  It  will  add  another,  and  decidedly  the  great- 
est and  most  valuable  staple  to  our  agriculture,  the 
true  source  of  wealth  to  any  country — a  staple  that 
will  conduce  more  to  the  happiness  and  comfort  of  our 
whole  country  than  any  other.  And  I  can  say  here, 
that  there  is  not  another  staple  that  offers  such  general 
advantages,  and  could  contribute  so  largely  to  enrich 
the  country,  as  the  culture  of  the  mulberry  tree,  and 
the  raising  of  silk.  But  as  I  have  said  before  in  some 
of  my  letters,  everything  must  be  cultivated  in  its 
proper  place ;  and  as  California  has  been  designed  by 
nature  for  that  rich  culture,  let  us  then  cultivate  it  all 
over  the  State. 


185 

We  already  have  our  cotton  States,  -why  not  have 
also  our  silk  States  ? — because  any  other  State  which 
possesses  a  climate  similar  to  ours,  is  convenient  for  silk 
culture,  and  our  simplified  California  silk  culture 
could  apply  to  it.  But  I  think  that  it  is  very  difficult 
to  find  another  place  so  wonderful,  and  so  particularly 
adapted  for  silk  culture,  as  California.  Here  we  seem 
to  have  everything  in  our  favor — the  lest  climate  for  the 
silkworms,  and  the  very  best  soil  to  cultivate  and  raise 
the  mulberry,  which  furnishes  here  an  abundance  of  that 
precious  and  healthy  food  that  they  need  :  all  these  ad- 
vantages, I  think,  cannot  be  surpassed  in  any  country. 

It  is  the  superiority  of  our  climate  that  allowed  me  to 
simplify  the  work,  and  reduce  it  considerably. 

I  will  show  at  the  cJippter  on  the  worms  how  and  why 
that  culture  will  have  to  be  adopted  here,  under  the  in- 
fluence of  our  dry  atmosphere,  besides  the  great  advan- 
tage it  has  of  reducing  the  work,  which  is  most  import- 
ant. 

In  other  silk  countries,  not  so  well  favored  as  Cali- 
fornia, the  climate  forces  them  to  feed  their  worms  with 
leaves  only  ;  while  here  in  California,  I  am  feeding  with 
branches,  and  the  worms  are  doing  better  that  way  than 
when  fed  with  leaves  only,  which  I  will  'demonstrate  in 
its  proper  place.  But  we  must  have  our  trees  planted 
in  view  of  our  California  silk  culture,  in  order  to  facili- 
tate the  gathering  of  the  branches. 


186  THE   CALIFORNIA 


JIOW  TO  PLANT. 

The  ground  being  prepared,  as  I  have  said  before, 
take  your  plants  that  you  have  grown  from  seeds,  or 
cuttings,  or  layers,  and  plant  them.  Here  in  California, 
according  to  your  locality  and  soil,  I  would  recommend 
that  the  rows  be  from  ten  to  twelve  feet  apart ;  but  in 
the  rows  I  would  put  them  double,  or  from  five  to  six 
feet.  Every  six  rows,  I  would  make  the  distance  be- 
tween the  rows  six  or  eight  feet  wider,  because  it  is 
necessary  to  leave  room  enough  to  pass  with  your  wagon 
to  load  your  branches  in  ;  because,  if  you  had  to  run 
too  far  it  would  be  a  loss  of  time,  and  it  is  to  your  ad- 
vantage to  plant  in  such  a  way  as  to  render  the  work 
easier  and  quicker. 

For  our  California  culture,  it  is  necessary  in  planting 
to  have  your  trees  cut  at  about  three  or  four  inches 
above  the  level  of  the  ground,  because  they  must  be 
kept  low,  so  as  to  render  the  gathering  of  the  branches 
easy ;  and  another  advantage  of  keeping  them  very  low 
is,  that  they  produce  more  branches,  and  consequently 
more  food. 

For  the  gathering  of  the  branches  you  must  have 
good  pruning  shears,  as  they  are  the  best  for  that  work 
to  do  it  well  and  quickly.  In  gathering  your  branches, 
I  wish  to  call  your  attention  to  a  very  important  pointy 
and  that  is,  if  you  cut  all  the  branches  at  the  time  of 
feeding,  the  effect  will  be  to  stop  the  sap,  which  is  fur- 
nished by  the  roots,  and  ruin  your  trees,  that,  under 
such  a  treatment,  would  hardly  live  two  years  ;  and  you 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  187 

know  now,  that  the  mulberry  tree  is  a  long-lived  tree, 
often  continuing  healthy  several  hundred  years. 

But  it  is  very  easy  to  avoid  injuring  the  trees,  in 
gathering  the  branches,  by  proceeding  thus  :  the  first 
time,  with  your  pruning  shears,  you  cut  only  about  one- 
third  of  the  branches  of  your  trees,  removing  always  the 
largest  branches,  and  cutting  each  time  only  what  you 
need  for  your  worms  and  no  more,  as  they  should  have 
fresh  food  every  time. 

You  proceed  in  that  manner  every  day,  in  cutting 
only  about  one-third  ;  and  when  you  have  been  through 
all  your  trees,  you  come  back  and  begin  again  where 
you  first  began,  and  cut  again  another  third  in  the  same 
manner ;  and  doing  so,  by  the  number  of  young  branches 
left  on  your  trees,  the  sap  continues  to  run  up,  and  your 
trees  do  not  suffer  from  the  gathering  of  some  of  their 
branches. 

Low  Mulberry  Tree  Plantations,  therefore,  in  their 
formation,  is  the  mode  which  I  shall  recommend  for 
general  adoption  in  California,  for  the  following  reasons  : 
First,  it  is  necessary  for  our  mode  of  feeding  in  Cali- 
fornia, as  it  renders  easy  the  gathering  of  the  branches. 
Second,  they  arrive  to  a  state  of  productiveness  with 
comparatively  little. expense  of  time  and  tillage.  Third, 
sufficient  sun  and  air  are  admitted  to  the  tree  to  render 
the  leaves  of  the  first  quality,  and  to  enable  them  to  put 
forth  early.  Fourth,  the  ground  is  more  suddenly  and 
completely  filled  and  occupied  than  by  planting  stand- 
ards. Fifth,  they  are  easier  to  be  managed  and  con- 
trolled. Sixth,  the  produce  of  leaves,  on  the  same 


188  THE   CALIFORNIA 

quantity  of  land,  is  more  than  double,  than  from  stand- 
ard trees  in  their  best  state,  when  the  labor  is  much  les- 
sened. Seventh,  women  and  children  can  gather  the 
food  with  perfect  convenience  from  low  trees,  which  they 
cannot  so  easily  do  at  all  from  large  trees. 

Hosier  and  other  modern  writers  of  France,  particu- 
larly recommend  this  mode  in  preference  to  all  others. 

John  P.  Gushing,  Esq.,  of  Belmont,  in  Watertown,  a 
gentleman  who  has  resided  many  years  in  China,  has 
stated  that  the  most  approved  mode  of  cultivating  the 
mulberries,  as  practiced  in  that  country,  consists  in 
keeping  them  low  by  annual  prunings,  like  plantations 
of  raspberries.  The  same  mode,  according  to  Mr.  Lou- 
don,  and  also  Mr.  Bonafoux,  is  practiced  in  India. 

This  system  of  keeping  the  trees  low  is  certainly  tho 
best,  and  the  only  one  we  can  follow  with  advantage  for 
our  California  silk  culture. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

MULBERRY   TREES    EVERYWHERE. 

The  mulberry  tree  is  the  lest,  the  most  useful,  and, 
consequently,  the  most  valuable  of  all  the  trees  known ; 
more  particularly  in  California,  where  it  grows  so  easily 
and  so  rapidly.  I  will  try  to  demonstrate  here,  and 
show  how  and  why  we  ought  to  plant  it  everywhere,  in 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  189 

showing  its  merits  and  superiority  over  all  the  rest,  by 
enumerating  a  few  facts. 

1st.  Because  it  is  the  easiest  tree  to  propagate,  and, 
as  it  grows  so  rapidly  in  California,  it  will  be  the  cheap- 
est. 

2nd.  Because  most  of  the  varieties  of  the  mulberry 
are  esteemed  dessert  fruits  when  perfectly  mature. 

3rd.  Because  the  syrup  made  from  its  fruit  is  very 
useful  in  mitigating  inflammation  of  the  throat. 

4th.  Because,  also,  when  the  fermented  juice  of  its 
fruit  is  mixed  with  apples  it  affords  a  delicious  beverage 
called  mulberry  cider,  of  a  deep  red  color  like  port  wine. 
The  black  mulberry  is  the  best  variety  for  that  purpose. 

5th.  The  juice  of  its  fermented  fruits  produces  a 
pleasant,  vinous  wine  by  itself  alone. 

6th.  It  ought  to  be  planted  also  for  the  value  of  its 
wood,  which  is  compact,  elastic,  and  hard,  and  suscep- 
tible of  a  fine  polish ;  it  is  therefore  very  useful  to  the 
upholsterer,  the  carver,  and  the  turner. 

7th.  The  great  strength  of  the  timber  renders  it  very 
valuable  for  the  joiners  generally. 

8th.  The  quality  of  its  timber  makes  it  also  very  valu- 
able for  the  building  of  boats,  its  power  of  resisting  the 
action  of  the  water  being  equal  to  oak. 

9th.  One,  also,  of  its  merits  is,  that  the  tree  is  long- 
lived  :  it  is  fully  demonstrated  that  it  lives  several  hun- 
dred years. 

10th.  Its  bark  can  be  converted  into  linen  of  the  fine- 
ness of  silk.  I  have  in  hand  some  of  that  kind  of  silk, 


190  THE   CALIFORNIA 

produced  from  the  bark ;  it  looks  as  fine,  and  as  good 
and  strong  as  the  floss  silk  from  the  cocoons. 

llth.  It  is  very  valuable  for  feeding  milch  cows. 
Every  ont  has  seen  in  our  principal  papers,  under  the 
heading  of  mulberry  for  forage,  that  "  a  German  farm-  r 
of  Ohio,  during  the  late  season  of  drought,  cut  down  a 
number  of  black  mulberry  trees  for  his  cows,  and  was 
surprised  to  find  that  they  gave  more  and  richer  milk 
than  when  fed  on  grass ;  the  butter  had  a  peculiarly 
pleasant  flavor.  In  California  this  fact  may  be  of  great 
value ;  the  tree,by  growing  deep  into  the  earth,  read  us 
more  moisture,  and  can  resist  drought  better  than  grass, 
and  the  dairyman  would  t{ws  be  enabled  to  provide 
green  forage  the  year  round,  even  frmn  dry  soil."  Many 
farmers  were  ruined  by  the  loss  of  their  cattle,  not  long 
ago,  when  we  had  been  two  years  without  rain,  and  then 
if  we  had  mulberry  trees  jJantcd  everywhere,  we  could 
have  saved  those  thousands  of  thousands  of  cattle  that 
perished  from  hunger.  Let  us  begin,  then,  to  plant 
everywhere,  and  such  a  calamity  will  never  occur  again. 

12th.  As  an  ornamental  tree  it  ought  to  be  planted 
everywhere,  because  there  is  none  that  can  be  compared 
to  it.  We  are  planting  in  California  a  great  quantity  of 
ugly  and  common  trees,  that  are  good  for  nothing,  and 
that  are  called  ornamental  trees,  when  they  really  orna- 
ment nothing  at  all,  and  which  are  certainly  very  far 
from  being  as  fine  looking  and  ornamental  as  the  mul- 
berry tree.  Some  of  these  common  trees,  instead  of 
being  ornamental,  I  consider  a  real  and  .regular  nui- 
mnc.e.  Such  is  the  cotton  wood  tree,  that  we  find  planted 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  191 

in  many  of  our  cities  to  ornament  their  streets,  and,  in- 
stead of  that,  renders  them  dirty,  and  everything  in 
their  neighborhood.  Then  it  would  ba  certainly  hun- 
dreds of  times  better  to  cut  down  immediately  all  these 
dirty  trees,  and  plant  mulberry  trees  in  their  place,  and 
then  only,  we  will  have  fine-looking,  ornamental,  and 
clean  trees  to  look  at ;  as  on  the  others,  myriads  of  in- 
sects live  upon  their  leaves,  while  with  the  mulberry  tree, 
no  insect  can  live  upon  its  leaves  but  the  silkworm. 

13th.  As  the  mulberry  produces  also  a  quantity  of  fruit 
that  the  birds  are  fond  of,  this  is  another  reason  why 
they  should  be  planted  everywhere,  around  the  gardens, 
farms,  and  particularly  orchards,  as  a  protection  to  other 
fruits.  The  damage  done  by  birds  to  fruits  generally, 
and  particularly  to  cherries,  is  well  known  by  all.  This 
damage  will  be  greatly  reduced,  because  the  quantity 
of  fruit  they  eat  from  the  mulberry  they  will  not  have  to 
eat  elsewhere. 

14th.  Another  reason  again,  why  all  the  farmers 
ought  to  plant  it  everywhere  around  their  premises  is, 
as  I  have  said  before,  because  the  trees  produce  a  large 
quantity  of  fruit,  that  keeps  falling  off  the  trees  for  a 
long  time.  The  hens  and  other  fowls  generally  like  it, 
and  devour  it,  and  it  is  considered  a  good  and  whole- 
some food  for  them,  and  the  same  for  other  animals  about 
the  farm ;  in  fact,  their  fruit  is  perfectly  wholesome  in 
every  respect.  This  point  ought  to  be  taken  into  con- 
sideration by  our  farmers,  and  make  them  understand 
that  it  is  for  their  interests  to  quit  planting  trees  that 
are  good  for  nothing. 


192  THE  CALIFORNIA 

15th.  Even  one  of  the  above  facts  is  enough  to  prove 
that  it  is  a  useful  tree ;  but  all  these  facts  together  are 
more  than  sufficient  to  persuade  any  reasoning  person 
that  the  mulberry  tree  ought  to  be  planted  everywhere 
in  California :  but  it  is  not  all,  and  we  come  now  to  the 
most  important  point.  Besides  the  above  facts  in  its 
favor,  it  is  the  tree  that  produces  that  wholesome  food 
for  the  insect  that  produces  the  silk,  which  is  the  finest 
and  richest  of  all  fabrics ,  and  which  has  made  so  many 
countries  rich  ;  and  as  California  is  found  to  be  so  favor- 
able to  that  culture,  we  will  certainly  be  the  first  and 
most  important  silk  State  of  the  Union. 

Now,  I  have  said,  at  the  beginning  of  that  chapter, 
that  the  mulberry  tree  is  the  best,  the  most  useful  and 
valuable  of  all  the  trees  known.  I  am  in  hope  that  all 
my  readers  will  now  agree  with  me  that  it  is  the  truth, 
as  I  think  it  would  be  very  difficult  to  find  another  tree 
of  such  importance. 

Now,  wo  will  leave  the  mulberry  tree  for  the  silk- 
worms. 


CHAPTER  X. 

COCOONEUY,  OR   MAGUANERIE    BUILDING,  TO   RAISE  THE 
SILKWORMS  IN. 

Since  1860  I  have  been  raising  silk  in  California,  but 
never  had  the  means  to  have  a  cocoonery.     I  have  been 


198 

obliged  to  raise  the  first  silk  in  a  greenhouse,  having  no 
other  room  that  I  could  use.  A  greenhouse  is  a  very- 
bad  place  for  using  the  worms,  because  there  is  a  suffo- 
cating heat  during  the  day,  and  it  is  very  cold  at  night. 
I  have  been  raising  them  that  way  for  four  years  ;  and 
since,  two  years  in  the  garret  of  my  new  house,  which 
is  not  a  good  place  either,  as  I  am  not  able  to  give  them 
air  enough  there  ;  but,  however,  it  is  better  than  the 
greenhouse.  In  both  places,  I  have  succeeded  in  rais- 
ing them  without  any  sign  of  disease,  which  shows  the 
superiority  of  our  climate,  because,  in  many  other  silk 
countries,  under  such  circumstances,  they  would  not 
have  been  able  to  raise  any.  But,  besides  that,  I  have 
given  worms  and  sent  silkworms'  eggs  to  different  per- 
sons in  the  State,  with  a  few  verbal,  and  sometimes  a 
few  lines  of  instruction  in  a  letter,  and  they  have  all 
succeeded  in  raising  the  silk  ;  and  persons  that  have 
never  done  it  before,  some  of  them,  have  raised  their 
silkworms  in  their  bedroom,  some  in  their  kitchen,  others 
in  different  rooms,  or  rather  a  shed.  All  this  certainly 
demonstrates  fully,  that  under  our  fine  silk  climate,  silk- 
worms can  be  raised  in  any  room,  and  almost  every- 
where in  California. 

IMPORTANCE   OF.  A   COCOONERY. 

For  any  one  that  wishes  to  make  a  profitable  business 
of  it,  a  good  cocoonery  is  indispensable  ;  because, 
although  the  climate  allows  us  here  to  raise  silkworms 
in  almost  any  way,  it  is,  however,  well  established  and 
known,  that  the  silkworms  need  plenty  of  air,  room, 


194  THE   CALIFORNIA 

and  particularly  a  temperature  as  regular  as  possible. 
All  these  points  cannot  be  attained  without  a  good 
cocoonery,  built  with  special  reference  to  them. 

In  a  good  cocoonery  we  are  certain  of  obtaining  more 
silk  from  the  same  number  of  cocoons,  and  the  silk 
finer,  and  of  superior  quality,  besides  rendering  the 
feeding  of  the  worms  easier,  and  consequently  it  can  be 
done  with  less  trouble  and  work. 

A  good  cocoonery  has  also  the  advantage  of  pro- 
tecting the  silkworms  against  their  natural  enemies, 
which  are  the  bird,  principally,  and  all  the  poultry, 
rats,  mice  and  ante. 

A  GOOD  COCOONERY  IS  NEEDED  ON  EVERY  FARM. 

I  wish  to  show  and  impress  upon  every  reasoning 
person,  that  a  good  cocoonery  is  indispensable  on  every 
farm,  and  that  such  a  building  would  be  of  great  benefit 
to  each  farmer,  not  only  for  the  raising  of  silkworms, 
but  also  for  other  products,  because  at  the  feeding 
time,  which  is  in  June  and  July,  you  have  no  need  of 
the  building  to  store  anything  in,  and  during  all  the 
balance  of  the  year  that  building  can  be  used  to  store 
all  the  grain,  hay,  corn,  or  any  other  products  that  need 
to  be  protected  against  the  inclemency  of  the  weather, 
or  the  depredations  of  cattle,  squirrels,  gophers,  rats, 
mice,  etc.,  etc.  It  is  evident  that  for  the  storage  of 
all  this  only,  such  a  building  ought  to  exist  on  every 
farm ;  and  the  saving  of  the  crops  will  certainly  more 
than  compensate  the  farmer  for  the  erection  of  it, 
because  they  can  build  it  small  or  large,  according  to 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  195 

the  size  of  the  farm  and  the  business  carried  on,  or 
intended  to  be.  But,  as  it  would  not  cost  any  more, 
it  should  be  necessary  to  have  the  interior  of  that 
building  arranged  in  view  of  using  it  for  storage  and 
silkworms,  and  that  is  very  simple.  Only  have  all  the 
posts  for  the  shelves  of  a  regular  size  and  length,  kept 
together  by  means  of  wooden  pins  or  screws,  all  also  of 
the  same  size,  or  any  other  way  that  you  may  find 
better  ;  but  remember  that  they  must  be  arranged  in 
such  a  way  as  to  make  it  very  easy  to  put  them  together 
and  to  take  them  apart.  Then,  after  you  put  them  up, 
when  you  want  to  feed  your  silkworms,  and  after  the 
feeding  and  cleaning  is  done,  in  a  few  hours'  work  you 
can  take  the  whole  thing  apart,  and  have  them  piled  in 
one  or  more  corners  of  the  building,  as  you  find  it  most 
convenient ;  and  then  you  have  the  whole  room  ready 
for  your  storage,  or  anything  else. 

Many  farmers  have  to  pay  storage  for  their  grain  ; 
but  the  moment  they  have  a  cocoonery,  they  will  save 
that  much,  besides  the  other  advantages. 

PLAN   OP   A   CALIFORNIA    COCOONERY. 

As  our  fine  silk  climate  enabled  me  to  simplify  the 
culture  of  silk,  and  our  California  silk  culture  is  different 
from  that  of  other  countries,  we  also  need  a  California 
cocoonery  to  suit  our  culture,  and  also  different  from 
the  others.  I  would  then  suggest  or  propose  the  annexed 
plan : 

The  building  is  fifty  feet  wide  by  one  hundred  feet 
long,  and  is  two  stories  high ;  the  walls  to  be  brick,  but 


196  TIIK   CALIFORNIA 

hollow,  according  to  Mr.  Goodrich's  patented  syst 
These  are  my  reasons  for  recommending  hollow  walls  : 
First,  they  are  nearly  one-third  cheaper,  as  only 
bricks  are  needed  instead  of  three.     Second,  it  is  more 
healthy  for  the  worms.     Third,  and  the  principal,  it 
has  a  more  even   temperature,  which   is  exceedii 
favorable  to  silkworms.     It  is  necessary  for  a  complete 
success  that  we  do  all  we  can  to  have  in  our  cocooiu TV 
a  temperature  as  regular  as  possible. 

About  eight  windows  will  be  needed  on  each  side  of 
the  first,  and  also  of  the  second  story. 

SHELVES,  POSTS,  ETC. 

The  posts  to  support  the  shelves  ought  to  be  from 
three  to  four  inches  in  diameter  and  eight  feet  apart ; 
the  cross  pieces  to  support  the  boards  about  one  inch 
and  a  half  thick  by  three  inches  wide,  and,  of  course, 
just  eight  feet  long. 

We  can  use  inch  boards  sixteen  feet  long,  the  cross 
pieces  being  eight  feet  apart,  the  board  will  be  sup- 
ported in  the  two  ends  and  in  the  middle  ;  the  boards 
need  to  be  in  sufficient  number  to  make  the  shelf  eight 
feet  wide. 

The  shelves  need  to  be  two  feet  six  inches  from  one 
to  the  other.  The  worms  on  the  three  first  can  be  fed 
while  standing  on  the  floor,  and  for  the  three  others 
above,  at  that  point  the  cross  piece  needs  to  be  longer, 
so  as  to  put  a  good  board  on  the  ends  to  take  care  of 
them,  and  the  same  way  in  the  second  story. 

The  galleries  between  the  shelves,  to  take  care  of 


197 

the  worms,  are  four  feet  wide  in  the  center,  but  those 
alongside  of  the  walls  only  three  feet.  The  rafters  are 
laid  across  for  a  second  floor,  but  they  are  only 
boarded,  where  the  galleries  are,  for  attending  the 
worms  ;  the  object  of  this  arrangement  being  to  allow 
the  air  to  circulate  everywhere. 

In  order  to  be  able  to  regulate  the  temperature  and 
have  plenty  of  air,  I  wish  a  kind  of  second  roof  on  the 
top  should  be  raised  at  about  twenty  inches  from 
the  other,  and  projecting  on  each  side  from  four  to  five 
feet.  This  gives  the  appearance  of  a  double  roof. 
With  some  hinges,  lids  can  be  hung  that  we  can  open 
and  shut  at  will. 

In  the  cocoonery  it  is  very  important  to  have  nothing 
that  would  give  a  bad  smell,  and  more  particularly 
tobacco.  That  drug  is  a  regular  poison  for  the  worms, 
and  no  one  that  smokes  or  chews  tobacco  should  be 
allowed  to  go  into  a  cocoonery,  as  the  breath,  which  is 
impregnated  with  that  drug,  is  very  injurious  to  worms. 

The  cocoonery  should  be  built  in  an  airy  situation, 
because  what  the  worms  need  most  is  plenty  of  air  and 
space.  In  regard  to  space,  I  see  that  Count  Dandolo 
says,  that  he  considers  the  following  estimate  as  afford- 
ing sufficient  space  for  a  million  of  silk  worms,  or  in 
this  proportion  for  a  greater  or  less  number :  for  the 
first  age,  two  hundred  square  feet  of  surface ;  for  the 
second  age,  three  hundred  and  seventy-five  square  feet ; 
for  the  third  age,  eight  hundred  and  seventy-five 
square  feet;  for  the  fourth  age,  two  thousand  and 


198  THE  CALIFORNIA 

sixty-two  feet,  and  for  the  fifth  age,  about  five  thousand 
feet  of  surface. 

In  other  silk  countries,  less  favored  than  California, 
they  have  to  use  in  their  cocooneries  any  amount  of 
different  apparatus ;  but  we  have  no  need  of  all  that  here. 

At  one  end  of  the  building  and  under  ike  roof,  I 
would  recommend  to  have  one  room,  finished  off,  of  some 
twenty  feet  square,  more  or  less,  according  to  the  capa- 
of  the  building — it  should  be  lathed  and  plastered  ;  that 
room  to  be  used  as  a  hatching  room,  and  for  the  first 
week's  feeding,  and  also  for  the  millers. 

I  have  already  designated  the  enemies  of  the  silk- 
worms, but  I  wish  you  to  remember  particularly  that 
mice  destroy  from  the  egg  to  the  miller. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

SILKWORMS — THE   DIFFERENT!  VARIETIES  OP. 

Aa  there  are  many  varieties  of  silkworms,  wo  will 
have  to  find  which  is  the  best  for  California ;  and  in 
order  to  decide  that  satisfactorily,  I  have  made  ar- 
rangements to  receive  this  season,  five  of  the  best  vari- 
eties that  are  in  cultivation  in  Europe,  which  I  will  try 
the  next  season,  and  then  I  will  inform  the  public  of 
the  results.  I  already  have  in  hand  my  first  variety, 
which  is  very  good ;  but  I  expect  to  find  among  the 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  199 

others  something  better,  which  will  produce  still  larger 
cocoons,  according  to  the  information  I  have. 

I  have  now  a  variety  from  Japan,  that  I  expect  to 
be  their  annual  variety,  that  I  will  be  able  to  try  the 
next  season  also.  In  Japan,  as  in  other  silk  countries, 
they  cultivate  several  varieties ;  some  better  than  oth- 
ers. If  this  kind  is  their  annual  variety,  according  to 
the  accounts  I  have  of  it,  I  know  it  will  be  a  good 
sort.  But,  last  year,  I  received  a  variety  from  Japan, 
which  I  tried  this  last  season.  It  belongs  to  the 
class  of  worms  called  trivoltines,  because  they  hatch 
several  times  during  the  season ;  and  in  California  the 
eggs  of  that  variety  hatch  eight  or  ten  days  after  the 
females  have  laid  them.  I  have  made  this  last  season 
three  crops  of  that  variety,  each  time  coming  to  per- 
fection. Their  cocoons  are  of  a  pure  white,  but  small, 
and  for  that  reason  I  cannot  recommend  them  to  be 
cultivated.  For  my  part  I  will  not  cultivate  them  any 
more,  for  two  reasons :  First,  the  fact  of  hatching  so 
readily,  keeps  you  busy  all  summer  after  them ;  and 
certainly  one  good  crop  of  a  good  variety,  (which  is 
only  one-third  of  the  work)  is  more  valuable  than 
three  crops  of  those.  Second,  their  cocoons  being 
too  small,  are  consequently  of  little  value,  as  they  pro- 
duce the  short  silk ;  and  you  must  all  know  that  short 
silk  brings  the  small  price  and  long  silk  the  larger 
price  ;  and  I  prefer  long  silk. 

Some  eggs  of  that  Japanese  variety,  that  were  left 
in  my  garret,  have  hatched  out  for  the  fourth  time. 

My  old,  or  first  variety,  produces  yellow  cocoons,  but 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 


200  THE  CALIFORNIA 

very  superior  to  that  Japanese  sort,  in  site  and  quality. 
Until  we  find  something  better,  it  is  the  best  var 
that  we  could  cultivate  at  present.     I  received  thai 
variety  at  the  first,  from  France,  but  its  origin  is  China. 

There  are  many  other  varieties  of  silkworms ;  I  will 
mention  a  few  here.  Besides  the  silkworms  of  one 
crop,  or  annual,  we  hare  also  those  of  two  crops. 
These  go  through  their  various  mutations  in  twenty 
days,  and  produce  fine  white  silk,  which  has  the  valua- 
ble property  of  retaining  its  clear  white  color.  It  pro- 
duces two  crops,  though  the  quantity  is  leas  than  that 
produced  by  the  largo,  dark  colored,  or  by  the  large 
white  worm. 

At  the  silk  establishment  of  the  British  East  India 
Company,  at  Jungepore,  in  Bengal,  besides  the  com- 
mon  silkworm,  which  produces  but  a  single  crop  annu- 
ally, they  have  also  another  silkworm  called  dacey, 
which  produced  eight  croj*  or  harvests,  and  is  supposed 
to  be  indigenous. 

There  is  a  variety  of  silkworm  found  in  Friuli,  so 
very  large  that  two  of  them,  when  fully  grown,  will  out- 
weigh five  of  the  common  kind,  and  their  cocoons 
wei#h  almost  in  the  same  proportion ;  the  quantity  of 
food  is  one-tenth  less  in  proportion  to  the  weight  of  co- 
coons produced,  than  for  the  common  kind,  but  they 
require  five  or  six  clays  longer  in  their  evolutions,  be* 
fore  they  begin  to  spin  their  cocoons,  which  arc  heavy, 
and  measure  almost  l,oUO  yards.  One  hundred  co- 
coons weigh  a  pound,  and  one  thousand  and  ninety-one 
will  yield  a  pound  of  pure  reeled  silk. 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  201 

The  arrindy  silkworm  is  another  species  entirely 
different  from  any  other  described  or  known,  and  is 
called  arrindy  from  the  name  of  the  plant,  the  palma 
christi,  on  which  the  insect  feeds.  It  is  peculiar  to 
the  districts  of  Dinapore  and  Rangpore,  in  the  interior 
of  Bengal,  where  it  is  reared  by  the  natives  in  a  domestic 
state,  as  they  do  other  silkworms.  The  palma  christi 
is  largely  cultivated  in  India,  as  it  is  also  in  many  parts 
of  France,  and  some  other  countries,  for  the  abundant 
produce  of  oil  which  is  obtained  from  its  seeds,  known 
in  commerce  as  the  castor  oil.  This  plant  is  therefore 
cultivated  for  the  double  use  of  seeds,  and  also  of  its 
leaves. 

The  cocoons  it  produces  are  remarkably  soft  and 
white,  or  yellowish ;  and  the  filament  is  so  exceedingly 
delicate,  that  it  cannot  be  wound,  as  are  other  cocoons, 
but  must  be  spun  like  cotton.  The  cloth  woven  of  this 
substance,  is  white,  coarse,  and  of  a  seemingly  loose 
texture,  but  of  incredible  durability ;  it  is  used  for  the 
clothing  of  both  men  and  women,  and  will  wear  con- 
stantly for  fifteen  or  twenty  years.  Hot  water  dis- 
solves its  texture,  causing  it  to  tear;  it  is  therefore 
washed  only  in  cold  water. 

The  palma  christi,  or  castor  bean  plant,  flourishes 
most  luxuriantly  in  California  ;  and,  under  our  fine 
climate,  that  variety  would  certainly  do  well  here. 

The  wild  silkworm  of  India  is  a  species  which  can- 
not be  domesticated.  They  are  so  abundant  in  many 
parts  of  Bengal,  and  the  provinces  adjoining,  as  to  have 
afforded  the  natives  of  those  countries,  and  particularly 


202  THE   CALIFORNIA 

the  Brahmins,  from  time  immemorial,  considerable  sup- 
plies, of  a  most  durable,  coarse,  dark  colored  silk. 
which  is  woven  into  a  fabric  called  tu**eh  dootie.  This 
kind  of  cloth  might  prove  very  useful  here,  and  be 
beneficial  to  die  country,  as  a  cheap,  light,  cool,  and 
durable  dress  is  much  wanted — such  a  dress  as 
silk  affords,  and  such  as  is  worn  by  the  Brahmins  of 
India.  Once  introduced,  our  climate  being  so  favor- 
able, the  species  would  certainly  flourish,  unaided  by 
the  care,  and  undisturbed  by  the  attentions  of  man ; 
but  for  that  we  must  have  large  quantities  of  mulberry 
trees  planted  to  let  them  spread  over. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

MODES  OF  RAISING  SILK  IN  DIFFKRKNT  COUNTRIES. 

Before  giving  our  California  silk  culture,  I  thought 
it  would  be  well  briefly  to  sketch  the  different  modes 
of  raising  the  silk  in  other  countries.  It  will  give  my 
readers  some  light  on  the  subject,  and  enable  them  to 
appreciate  our  culture,  by  comparison. 

The  general  saying  is :  give  the  silkworms  air,  fretk 
and  pure ;  let  them  be  comfortably  warm  and  dry, 
and  cleanly  ;  and  with  sufficient  space  to  prevent  them 
from  contact,  with  ample  supplies  of  healthy  food. 
These  directions  alone  are  sufficient  to  insure  the  most 
perfect  success. 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  203 

Although  the  art  of  making  silk  was  for  ages  in- 
volved in  obscurity,  it  is  now  stripped  in  a  great  meas- 
ure of  the  dark  vestments  in  which  it  has  been  so  long 
and  so  mysteriously  vailed  ;  specimens  of  sewing  silk  of 
different  colors,  and  of  the  most  perfect  beauty,  have 
been  produced  by  N.  B.  Stacy,  Esq.,  of  Burlington, 
Vt.,  in  1836,  and  that  unaided  by  any  experience, 
and  with  no  other  instruction  than  that  which  books 
afford.  Mr.  Stacy  has  succeeded  in  raising  and  manu- 
facturing several  pounds  of  sewing  silk  of  superior 
quality,  yet  ho  had  never  before  seen  a  silkworm,  a 
cocoon,  or  reel,  and  was  himself  astonished  to  find  no 
mystery  in  the  business.  The  cocoons  produced  by  him 
were  very  large,  requiring  but  little  more  than  two 
hundred  to  the  pound.  He  is  persuaded  that  the 
main  profit  depends  on  full  feeding,  and  making  the 
greatest  possible  amount  of  silk  from  every  insect. 

In  some  parts  of  China,  where  the  climate  is  more 
suitable,  the  silkworms  are  suffered  to  remain  at  liberty, 
on  their  native  mulberry  trees,  where,  uncontrolled  and 
unaided  by  man,  they  pass  through  their  various  muta- 
tions among  the  branches.  When  the  cocoons  are 
formed,  they  are  collected  from  the  trees,  except  a  few 
which  are  left  for  reproduction. 

The  experiment  of  raising  silkworms  in  the  open  air 
was  tried  in  Languedoc,  France,  by  Mr.  Martely,  of ' 
Montpelier,  in  the  garden  of  the  College  of  Jesuits,  of 
that  city,  in  1764.  In  that  year  twelve  hundred  francs 
were  appropriated,  by  the  Minister  of  France,  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  the  experiment,  which  succeeded  per- 


204  THE   CALIFORNIA 

fectly.  In  1765,  the  sum  of  eighteen  hundred  francs 
was  appropriated  to  defray  the  expense  of  another  trial ; 
but  owing  to  the  unfavorable  state  of  the  weather,  and 
the  heavy  and  incessant  rains,  the  experiment  in 
instance  totally  failed  ;  and  though  the  rearing  of  silk- 
worms in  the  ojxm  air  has  not  been  attempted  any  more 
in  that  quarter,  yet  its  partial  success  taught  the  culti- 
vators new  and  important  lessons,  in  regard  to  a  more 
perfect  system  of  ventilation. 

In  China,  when  the  mulberry  tree  has  sufficiently 
put  forth  its  leaves,  the  rolls  of  paper  on  which  the  eggs 
of  the  silkworms  have  been  preserved,  are  daily  sus- 
pended in  the  sun :  the  side  on  which  the  eggs  are 
placed  being  turned  from  its  rays.  At  night  the  papers 
are  closely  rolled  up  and  placed  in  a  warm  situation ; 
and  this  bcin^  daily  repeated,  the  eggs  hatch  in  about 
four  or  five  days.  But  in  high  latitudes,  the  Chinese 
regulate  the  temperature  of  apartments  with  stoves, 
that  the  e<?£8  may  hatch  simultaneously. 

The  houses  for  silkworms  are  in  dry  situations  and 
in  a  pure  atmosphere,  and  remote  from  noise.  The  rooms 
are  made  very  close,  but  with  ample  means  of  ventila- 
tion, and  the  doors  open  on  the  south.  Each  room,  or 
chamber,  is  provided  with  nine  or  ten  tiers  of  frames, 
on  which  the  rush  hurdles  are  ranged  one  above  the 
"other ;  on  these  the  insects  are  fed  during  all  the  differ- 
ent periods  of  their  growth.  Stoves  are  also  provided 
in  the  corners  of  the  apartments,  to  preserve  a  uniform 
and  equal  temperature  ;  or  coals  arc  carried  in  a  cha- 


205 

fing  dish,  from  time  to  time,  backwards  and  forwards, 
through  the  room. 

In  China,  the  wants  of  the  young  worms  are  supplied 
with  unceasing  attention ;  they  are  fed  during  the  night 
as  well  as  the  day,  forty  times  during  the  first  twenty- 
four  hours,  and  thirty  times  during  the  second  day ;  but 
fewer  and  fewer  on  the  third  day,  and  afterwards. 
Sagacious  observers,  from  their  long  experience  affirm, 
that  as  the  growth  of  the  silkworms  is  accelerated  and 
success  assured  by  the  abundance  of  their  food ;  also, 
that  the  quicker  the  silkworms  are  brought  to  maturity, 
the  greater  is  the  quantity  of  silk  which  they  produce. 
If  the  silkworms  which  are  produced  by  each  drachm 
in  weight  of  eggs  are  suffered  to  linger,  either  through 
cold,  or  neglect  and  famine,  for  thirty  or  forty  days, 
before  they  begin  their  cocoons,  the  product  of  silk  will 
be  ten  ounces  ;  but  if  their  maturity  is  completed  in 
twenty-eight  days,  the  product  will  be  twenty  ounces  ; 
while  the  same  quantity  of  silkworms,  in  a  warmer  tem- 
perature, which  being  fully  fed  and  well  attended,  have 
completed  their  growth  in  the  short  time  of  twenty-five 
days,  will  produce  twenty-five  ounces  of  silk. 

The  Chinese  are  fully  sensible  of  the  importance  of 
preserving  the  most  perfect  degree  of  cleanliness  in 
their  establishments,  and  are  exceedingly  careful  on  this 
head.  When  the  insect  is  prepared  to  spin,  mats  are 
provided,  and  in  the  center  of  each  a  leaf  is  affixed,  an 
inch  in  width.  This  is  wound  round  in  spiral  form,  till 
the  mat  is  covered ;  a  space  being  left  between  each 

circle  of  one  inch,  it  having  been  found  that  less  silk  is 
10 


206  THE   CALIFORNIA 

wasted,  in  the   receptacle  of  these  dimensions,  than 
where  more  space  is  allowed ;  also,  at  such  periods  t 
exclude  the  outward  air  and  light,  believing  the  silk- 
worms spin  their  cocoons  more  diligently  in  darkness. 

Seven  days  after  the  silkworms  have  commenced 
their  cocoons,  they  are  collected  together ;  and  a  suffi- 
cient number  being  reserved  for  breeding,  the  remainder 
is  placed  in  layers,  in  large  earthcrn  jars  with  salt,  in 
the  proportion  of  one-fortieth  part  of  the  whole  weight 
of  cocoons  between  the  layers.  The  whole  is  covered 
with  large  dry  leaves,  and  the  mouths  of  the  vessels  are 
closely  stopped. 

The  long,  shining  cocoons  produce  silk  of  superior 
quality.  These  are  separated  in  reeling,  by  the  Chinese, 
from  those  cocoons  of  a  thick  fonn  and  dark  color,  which 
are  of  an  inferior  quality.  In  China  and  in  Han-Choo- 
Foo,  according  to  Sir  George  Staunton,  women  only 
are  employed  in  the  fabrication  of  flowered  and  em- 
broidered satins,  and  vast  numbers  are  employed  in 
very  extensive  factories. 

In  the  hot  climate  of  India,  the  silkworms  are  reared 
and  sheltered  in  buildings,  and  beneath  sheds  of  an 
open  and  airy  structure,  the  sides  being  composed  of 
lattice  work,  and  the  roofs  covered  with  thatch ;  their 
breadth  being  generally  fifteen  feet,  with  a  path  through 
the  center  of  sufficient  width.  The  height  is  usually 
eight  feet  or  more,  and  on  either  side ;  and  one  above 
the  other,  and  in  tiers  of  from  twelve  to  sixteen  deep, 
arc  the  stagings,  formed  of  shelves  or  shallow  boxes  of 
bamboo,  in  which  the  silkworms  are  placed.  The  posts,- 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  207 

which  support  the  stagings,  rest  in  basins  of  water,  to 
protect  them  from  ants.  When  the  silkworms  are  ready 
to  form  their  cocoons,  they  are  transferred  to  cells 
formed  of  planted  bamboo. 

Formerly,  it  has  been  the  practice  in  many  parts  of 
Europe,  to  inclose  a  couple  of  ounces  of  eggs,  in  a  silk 
or  cotton  bag ;  which  was  worn  in  the  bosom  next  the 
skin,  and  at  night  was  placed  beneath  a  warm  pillow. 
After  three  days  the  eggs  were  carefully  transferred  to 
thin  shallow  boxes,  these  being  placed  between  warm 
pillows.  The  heat  of  each  was  frequently  renewed,  as 
the  silkworms  were  expected  to  appear  toward  the 
fourth  day. 

In  Italy,  Count  Dandolo  had  recommended  and 
adopted  the  plan  of  using  stoves  for  warming  and  regu- 
lating the  temperature  of  the  apartments  in  which  the 
eggs  were  hatched.  The  heat  of  these  rooms  being 
regulated  by  the  thermometer,  is  raised  during  the  first 
day  to  sixty-four  degrees  ;  raising  it  gradually  a  degree 
or  two  a  day,  till  it  shall  have  reached  eighty-two 
degrees  on  the  tenth  day,  and  this  point  is  not  to  be 
exceeded.  Count  Dandolo  has  suggested  that  one 
room  might  answer  for  all  the  silkworms  of  a  whole 
district.  Fortunately,  the  necessity  of  rules  like  these 
is  unknown  in  California,  and  in  a  great  portion  of 
America. 

In  some  of  the  late  establishments  of  France,  they 
have  altogether  dispensed  with  the  use  of  fireplaces 
and  stoves,  the  apartments  being  now  wanned  when 


208  0        THB   CALIFORNIA 

needful  by  currents  of  heated  air,  caused  by  a  furnace 
placed  beneath  or  without  the  main  apartment. 

Broussa,  a  city  at  the  foot  of  the  Mount  Olympus, 
like  many  other  cities  of  Turkey,  says  Commodore 
Porter,  is  surrounded  with  plantations  of  the  mulberry 
trees ;  and  asses  laden  with  the  limbs  and  leaves  are 
continually  going  into  the  city. 

Mrs.  Rhind  says,  that  in  Turkey  the  production  of  silk 
is  confined  to  the  cities,  or  largo  towns,  in  the  vicinity 
of  which  the  mulberry  trees  are  chiefly  cultivated  by 
the  farmers  and  landed  proprietors,  who  do  not  raise 
the  silkworms  themselves  ;  at  the  suitable  season,  the 
leaves  are  daily  collected  by  them,  and  sold  in  the 
market  of  the  city  as  fruits  or  vegetables  are  sold. 
When  the  season  commences,  almost  every  family  clear 
out  all  the  rooms  in  the  house,  except  the  one  in  which 
they  live.  The  worms  being  hatched,  they  purchase 
sufficient  leaves,  and  strew  them  over  the  floor  of  each 
room,  leaving  only  a  small  space  round  the  four  walls, 
for  the  convenience  of  feeding ;  they  then  place  the 
worms  on  the  leaves,  who  rapidly  attack  them.  New 
quantities  of  leaves  are  daily  added  to  supply  the 
wants  of  the  worms :  the  litter  is  never  removed,  but 
is  suffered  to  accumulate  frequently  to  the  height  of 
three  feet.  When  the  worms  are  ready  for  winding, 
branches  and  brushes  are  planted  immediately  over  the 
collected  mass,  and  on  these  the  cocoons  are  formed ; 
and  these  being  collected,  the  rooms  are  then  cleared 
out,  and  the  reeling  is  commenced. 

This  is  the  rude  and   abominably  negligent  mode 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  209 

which  is  practiced  in  Broussa,  the  great  silk  district  of 
Turkey,  where  the  best  silk  is  produced.  Thus  in 
Turkey,  the  silkworms  are  reared  in  cities,  as  well  as 
in  country  villages,  and  the  food  is  purchased  in  the 
market ;  these  cities  and  villages  being  surrounded  by 
the  plantations  of  the  mulberry. 

I  have  been  thus  particular  in  describing  the  mode 
of  rearing  the  silk  in  Turkey,  but  not  by  any  means 
that  I  would  propose  it  as  an  example  for  us  to  imitate 
in  California,  but  as  a  striking  proof  of  the  great 
strength  of  constitution  which  the  silkworms  possess ; 
and  the  only  mystery  appears  to  be,  to  comprehend 
with  what  power  the  silkworms  are  endued,  which  can 
enable  them,  thus  situated,  not  only  to  live  and  survive, 
but  also  to  produce  valuable  crops.  It  shows  that  in 
Turkey,  their  trees  are  constantly  growing  under  the 
influence  of  a  genial  sun. 

I  have  also  tried  here  in  San  Jose*,  to  raise  the  silk- 
worms in  open  air.  In  1861,  knowing  that  the  birds 
would  eat  them  all,  I  covered  with  mosquito  bars  the 
two  trees  on  which  I  put  my  worms.  I  put  them 
in  the  morning  at  about  8  o'clock,  and  the  next  morn- 
ing at  about  the  same  time,  I  visited  them  and  found 
them  almost  all  gone ;  and  the  few  that  were  left  were 
surrounded,  each  one,  by  a  half  dozen  of  ants,  that 
were  carrying  them  away.  Finding  that  we  have  so 
many  enemies  outside,  I  concluded  that  it  was  of  no 
use  to  think  of  raising  them  in  the  open  air,  in  Cali 
fornia. 


210  THK  CALIFORNIA 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

AMOUNT  OF  FOOD. 

According  to  Count  Dandolo,  five  ounces  of  eggs 
will  furnish  tiro  hundred  thousand  silkworms,  which 
will  consume  wen  thousand  pounds  of  leaves ;  and  one 
hundred  trees  can  furnish  the  food  for  all ;  and  twenty- 
one  pounds  of  leaves  will  furnish  food  for  one  pound  of 
cocoons.  Count  DC  Hazzi,  from  the  sources  above 
named,  calculates  that  two  hundred  thousand  silkworms 
require  ten  thvutand  pounds  of  leaves  in  the  different 
stages  of  their  existence,  in  the  following  proportions: 
in  the  fir*t  age,  fifty  |>ouiuls ;  second  age,  one  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds ;  third  age,  four  hundred  and  sixty 
pounds ;  fourth  age,  one  thousand  three  hundred  and 
ninety  pounds ;  but  in  the  fifth  and  last  age,  which 
usually  comprises  near  one-third  of  the  brief  existence 
of  the  silkworm,  they  will  require  seven  thousand  nine 
hundred  and  fifty  {tounds. 

It  is  evident  that  the  curious  tables  of  the  progress 
of  the  insect  which  sumo  of  the  best  authors  have  given 
us,  can  be  no  sure  guide,  even  with  a  regulated  atmos- 
phere ;  the  progress,  space,  and  time,  and  proj>ortion  of 
food  which  will  be  required  for  the  forty  thousand  silk- 
worms, hatched  from  one  ounce  of  cg^s,  from  their 
birth,  till  the  time  they  begin  to  spin,  has  been  given 
by  Mr.  Bonafoux.  I  will  here  state  in  the  abstract, 
that  in  the  fnt  aye,  seven  pounds  of  leaves  are  con- 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  211 

sumed  ;  in  the  second,  twenty-one  pounds  ;  in  the  third , 
sixty-nine  pounds  and  twelve  ounces ;  in  the  fourth , 
two  hundred  and  ten  pounds  ;  and  in  the  fifth,  or  after 
the  fourth  moulting,  one  thousand  two  hundred  and 
eighty-one  pounds.  In  the  consumption  of  their  food, 
their  progress,  though  irregular  in  the  detail,  is  uniform 
on  the  whole.  On  the  third  day  from  their  birth,  they 
consume  three  pounds  of  leaves  ;  on  the /our/A,  but  one 
pound  and  six  ounces ;  on  the  fifth  day,  they  begin  to 
cast  off  their  skins,  and  being  sick  and  torpid,  they  con- 
sume but  six  ounces  ;  in  their  second  age,  and  on  the 
first  day,  they  consume  four  pounds  eight  ounces,  thus 
atoning  for  previous  abstinence ;  on  the  third  day, 
seven  and  one-half  pounds ;  but  on  the  fourth  day, 
comes  on  the  moulting  sickness,  and  they  cat  no  more 
than  two  and  one-half  pounds ;  in  the  third  age,  and 
first  day,  they  consume  six  and  three-fourths  pounds ; 
on  the  second  day,  twenty-one  and  one-half  pounds; 
on  the  third  day,  twenty-two  and  one-half  pounds ;  on 
the  fourth,  twelve  and  one-half  pounds ;  and  but  six 
and  one-half  pounds*  on  the  fifth  day ;  on  the  sixth 
day  they  become  sick,  and  take  no  food,  this  being 
a  critical  period.  They  cast  their  skins  for  the  third 
time.  On  the  first  day  of  the  fourth  age,  twenty- 
three  and  one-fourth  pounds  are  consumed;  but  on 
the  seventh  day  they  eat  absolutely  nothing,  and  are 
again  torpid,  this  being  the  critical  period.  They 
cast  off  their  skins  for  the  fourth  time.  In  the  fifth  age 
and  first  day,  they  consume  forty-two  pounds ;  on  the 
sixth  day,  they  become  most  of  all  voracious  and  con- 


212  THE   CALIFORNIA 

sume  two  hundred  and  twenty-three  pounds ;  from  this 
time,  their  appetites  daily  lessen,  until  the  tenth  day, 
when  they  consume  only  fifty-six  pounds.  The  silk- 
worms, which  at  their  time  of  birth  occupied  but  nine 
feet  of  the  hurdles,  now  require  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
nine  feet  of  space,  and  the  whole  quantity  of  food  con- 
sumed is  about  sixteen  hundred  pounds. 

According  to  another  account  of  Mr.  Bonafoux,  two 
hundred  thousand  silkworms  were  sustained  xm  seventy- 
two  hundred  pounds  of  leaves  ;  but  it  is  admitted  that 
a  certain  quantity  of  leaves  were  given  in  the  inter- 
mediate meals,  which  were  not  reckoned  in  the  account ; 
also,  that  in  the  first  stages,  the  leaves  were  chopped, 
which  enables  the  silkworms  to  consume  them  without 
waste. 

Other  and  authentic  accounts  make  the  amount  of 
food  consumed  even  less  than  five  thousand  pounds. 
We  will  admit  nine  thousand  pounds ;  but  much  must 
necessarily  depend  on  care,  and  economy  in  feeding. 

The  quantity  of  food  consumed,  depends  also  in  some 
measure  on  the  season ;  if  that  be  moist,  the  leaves  will 
contain  less  nourishment,  and  consequently  more  weight 
of  food  will  be  required;  but  if,  on  the  contrary,  the 
season  be  dry,  less  quantities  will  be  required,  as  the 
leaves  contain  much  more  nourishment.  Something 
also  depends  on  the  species  or  variety  of  mulberry 
which  is  used.  The  Morus  undticaulis  has  no  gross  or 
coarse  fibers.  It  is  fouud  that  a  less  quantity  of  food 
of  this  species  will  suffice  for  the  precious  insects.  The 
same  may  be  said  of  the  Mvrus  moretti,  which  con- 
tains in  proportion  more  nourishment. 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  213 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  FEEDING  AND  QUALITY   OF  FOOD. 

The  quantity  of  silk  which  the  insect  affords,  is  in 
proportion  to  the  amount  of  food  consumed  ;  the  dura- 
tion of  the  silkworm  is  prolonged  by  a  cool  season ; 
or  by  scanty,  or  irregular  supplies  of  food  ;  in  this  case, 
the  amount  of  silk  is  greatly  diminished.  When  a 
crop  of  silkworms  lingers,  either  through  cold  or  fam- 
ine, for  forty  days,  the  amount  of  silk  which  they  can 
afford  is  not  considerable ;  while  the  bounteous  harvest 
afforded  by  a  crop  of  silkworms  fully  fed  and  well 
attended,  which  in  a  warm  temperature  finish  their 
labors  in  twenty-four  days,  will  produce  more  than 
double  the  amount  of  silk.  The  silkworm  feeds  night 
and  day,  and  the  more  they  are  fed,  the  faster  they 
grow,  and  the  sooner  they  will  come  to  maturity ;  and 
in  proportion  to  the  dimensions  of  the  insect,  will  be 
the  size  of  the  cocoons,  and  the  amount  of  silk  pro- 
duced. 

A  certain  quantity  of  food  being  indispensable  to 
sustain  life,  and  the  amount  of  silk  which  is  afforded 
being  of  itself  wholly  the  production  of  the  excess  of 
the  food  consumed,  it  follows  as  a  consequence  that  to 
feed  them  profitably,  they  must  be  fed  well.  Feeding 
with  branches  I  consider  the  most  economical  mode  for 

a  warm  and  dry  climate  like  ours  in  California,  as  the 
10* 


214  THE    CALIFORNIA 

leaves  retain  their  freshness  and  flavor  for  a  longer 
time,  and  in  that  case  are  devoured  with  less  waste. 

The  Italians  insist  on  cutting  the  leaves  fine  for 
young  worms ;  I  did  so  the  last  season,  but  have 
observed  that  under  our  dry  atmosphere  we  should  not 
do  it,  as  they  get  dried  up,  immediately,  and  the  little 
ones  have  hardly  time  to  eat  anything  before  they  are 
too  hard ;  on  that  subject  I  am  just  reading  now,  that 
Mr.  Smith,  and  some  others  of  America,  have  rejected 
this  mode,  after  trial,  as  the  silkworms  tread  down  the 
cut  leaves,  passing  over  them  and  causing  waste. 

The  young  worms  prefer  twigs,  or  small  branches,  as 
the  leaves  keep  longer  in  this  state,  or  until  consumed, 
and  are  more  consonant  to  the  natural  habits  of  the 
worms.  It  has  also  been  noticed,  that  the  worms  avoid 
the  cut  edges,  and  attack  the  leaf  in  any  other  part 
in  preference.  A  dozen  leaves  torn  in  pieces  at  each 
feeding  will  support  a  great  many  worms  during  the 
first,  second,  third  and  fourth  days,  and  but  a  very 
few  leaves  will  suffice  during  the  first  ten  days.  Con- 
stant attention  will  soon  enable  the  intelligent  attend- 
ant to  discover  the  quantity  of  food  necessary,  and  to 
avoid,  on  one  hand,  stinting  them  in  the  needful  quan- 
tity, or  on  the  other  hand,  a  needless  waste  by  over 
supplies  of  food. 

The  young  leaves  being  replete  with  moisture,  and 
very  tender,  are  the  only  suitable  food  for  the  young 
silkworms,  because  their  bodies  perspire  largely ;  and 
as  the  mature  leaves  contain  a  greater  proportion  of 


215 

solid  and  nutritive  food,  so  they  are  the  only  suitable 
food  for  the  silkworms  of  a  more  advanced  age. 

Leaves  of  a  crude  and  watery  consistence,  like  wet 
leaves,  are  sour,  and  occasion  disease ;  leaves  which 
contain  more  nourishment,  grown  in  the  sun,  being 
alone  the  more  suitable.  The  best  quality  of  leaves 
are  produced,  (as  it  is  generally  admitted)  in  dry  sea- 
sons, and  on  dry  soils,  and  particularly  on  trees  little 
advanced  in  growth. 

In  our  State,  the  whole  summer  season  is  continually 
dry,  and  being  entirely  without  rain,  most  all  of  our 
soils  are  dry ;  this  is  why  our  leaves  are  of  the  first 
quality  for  the  worms. 

In  the  early  or  first  ages  of  the  silkworms  the  amount 
of  food  consumed  is  very  small ;  but  the  amount  is 
very  great  in  the  last  age,  as  their  dimensions  and  bulk 
are  wonderfully  increased. 

If  the  longitudinal  dimensions  of  the  insect  be  com- 
pared during  the  different  ages,  and  their  length  at 
hatching  being  unit,  or  one,  then  at  the  end  of  the  sec- 
ond age,  six ;  at  the  end  of  the  third  age,  twelve ;  at 
the  end  of  the  fourth  age,  twenty ;  at  the  end  of  the 
fifth  age,  forty. 

I  have  shown  before  that  the  duration  of  the  insect 
is  prolonged  by  cold,  or  for  want  of  proper  feeding ; 
while  on  the  contrary,  the  vital  functions  of  the  worms 
are  accelerated  by  warmth,  and  also  by  the  degree  of 
attention  which  is  bestowed  on  them. 

To  show  that  their  life  is  prolonged,  when  not  prop- 
erly fed,  a  very  remarkable  fact  occurred  here  last 


216  THE    CALIFORNIA 

summer.  Early  in  the  season,  I  gave  to  Col.  Warren, 
of  the  "  California  Farmer,"  a  lot  of  young  silkworms ; 
and  for  many  reasons  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  feed 
them  properly,  and  indeed  they  have  been  very  badly 
fed,  being  often  several  days  without  food  at  all ;  and 
often,  having  no  other,  he  had  to  feed  them  with 
faded,  hard,  dry  leaves,  that  was  impossible  for  them  to 
eat.  Under  such  treatment  they  lived  mostly  all  the 
time  in  a  torpid  state,  but  remained  small  for  three 
months.  At  that  time  the  Colonel  sent  them  to  me  ;  I 
then  fed  them  well,  and  in  a  few  days  they  got  fat,  and 
of  pretty  good  size,  and  made  their  cocoons,  although 
not  very  good  ones.  I  do  not  know,  but  think  that 
anywhere  else  they  would  not  haVe  lived  such  a  long 
time. 

In  a  regulated  temperature,  or  such  a  temperature 
as  Count  Dandolo  has  prescribed,  and  where  the  heat 
indicated  by  the  thermometer  is  gradually  reduced 
from  seventy-five  degrees  on  the  first  day,  to  sixty- 
eight  degrees  on  the  last,  though  the  weather  is  con- 
stantly growing  warmer ;  in  a  temperature  thus  regu- 
lated, their  various  changes,  or  moultings,  usually  occur 
on  the  fifth,  ninth,  fifteenth  and  twenty-second  days; 
and  they  generally  will  quit  feeding  on  the  thirty-sec- 
ond day ;  but  in  warm  climates,  as  I  have  shown,  the 
various  mutations  or  changes  are  hastened ;  but  it  seems 
agreed,  that  the  amount  of  food  consumed  is  the  same  ; 
it  is  evident  that  the  diary,  which  I  shall  omit,  is  only 
for  the  regulated  temperature,  and  we  have  it  natur- 
ally pretty  well  regulated  here,  during  the  feeding 
time. 


OF  TH 

TJNIVEF 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  217 


CHAPTER  XV. 

TREATMENT  OF  SILKWORMS,  ACCORDING  TO  OUR  CLIMATE. 

What  I  have  previously  said  in  the  different  sections 
is  in  order  to  familiarize  my  readers  with  the  nature 
and  treatment  of  the  silkworms,  that  they  may  be  able 
to  know  what  is  best  to  do,  and  then  be  competent 
judges  to  appreciate  the  advantages  of  our  California 
silk  culture,  which  is  so  simplified  that  it  gives  us  a 
great  advantage  over  other  silk  countries. 

Count  Dandolo  is  considered  the  best  writer  on  silk- 
worms, and  the  best  authority ;  this  explains  to  you, 
how  a  book  on  the  silk  raising  cannot  be  written  without 
referring  to  him  often ;  but  to  give  you  an  idea  of  the 
immense  work  that  the  climate  in  Italy  forces  them  to 
do,  compared  with  the  simple  and  economical  mode  of 
feeding,  etc.,  that  our  fine  silk  climate  allows  us  to  use 
here,  I  only  have  to  say  to  you  that  Dandolo's  work  on 
the  treatment  of  the  silkworm  is  a  book  of  large  size, 
containing  three  hundred  and  eighty-four  pages,  and  a 
great  number  of  plates ;  giving,  first,  a  plan  of  the 
complicated  and  expensive  cocoonery  which  must -be 
built  there,  with  also  the  figures  of  a  great  number  of 
different  apparatus  that  are  needed  there,  which  are 
very  costly,  and  of  which  we  have  no  need  here. 

They  have  been  obliged  to  feed  there  with  leaves  up 
to  the  present  day,  while  here  we  feed  our  worms  with 
branches.  I  have  explained  in  my  letters  in  the  be- 


218  THE   CALIFORNIA 

ginning  of  this  book,  how  I  came  to  that ;  it  was  in 
order  to  curtail  the  labor.  With  the  exception  of  Dan- 
dolo's  work,  that  I  have  in  French,  I  never  had  in  Cali- 
fornia, any  other  book  on  silk,  till  September  last,  when 
at  Sacramento,  my  old  friend  Mr.  A.  P.  Smith  of  that 
place,  presented  me  two ;  one,  the "  American  Silk 
Grower's  Guide,"  by  William  Kenrick ;  with  whom 
about  the  year  1838,  I  was  acquainted.  The  second 
book  is  "  Mulberry  Tree  and  Silk  Worm,"  by  Mr. 
Samuel  Whitemarsh.  Both  books  were  written  in 
1839. 

In  regard  to  the  feeding  with  branches  I  have  just 
read  in  Mr.  Whitemarsh's  book  an  article  that  pleased 
me  very  much,  as  it  coincides  with  my  ideas,  and  so 
well  with  all  I  have  said  before  about  it,  that  I  cannot 
help  giving  it  to  you  here ;  it  reads  thus  : 

"When  the  mulberry  branches  cease  to  be  worth  six 
cents  an  inch,  I  propose  to  feed  with  branches  as  they 
come  from  the  tree.  I  am  persuaded  that  this  practice 
will  be  generally  adopted  in  this  country,  as  it  has 
many  advantages,  some  of  which  I  will  enumerate. 

"  In  the  first  place,  the  foliage  may  be  gathered  in 
much  less  time ;  it  will  keep  better  till  consumed  ;  the 
same  saving  of  time  is  gained  in  feeding,  and  much 
more  in  cleaning  off  the  frames ;  the  worms  mount  the 
twigs  while  feeding,  and  remain  afterwards,  having 
more  advantage  of  the  air,  and  more  space  than  on  a 
flat  surface ;  the  leaf  will  be  entirely  consumed,  leav- 
ing nothing  but  dry  branches  to  remove ;  the  ordure 
of  the  worms  will  fall  through  to  the  shelf,  themselves 


219 

entirely  free  from  it ;  on  the  branches  they  will  have  a 
better  chance  to  be  equally  fed,  and  if  this  be  not 
attended  to,  the  ill  fed  ones  will  lag  behind.  But 
the  greatest  advantage  of  all  is,  that  they  need  not  to 
be  removed  from  the  frame,  from  the  time  they  are  put 
on  it,  till  they  mount  to  wind  the  cocoon  ;  this  will  be 
a  vast  saving  of  labor,  and  prevent  the  handling  of  the 
worms,  which  is  always  to  be  avoided.  As  the  branches 
are  laid  on,  they  should  be  laid  first  crosswise ;  and 
then  lengthwise  with  the  frame  ;  making  thus  a  sort 
of  net-work  which  can  be  easily  separated  in  layers  when 
you  clean  them  off;  the  worms  will  be  more  healthy, 
particularly  in  moulting  time,  as  in  the  usual  way  of 
feeding  with  leaves ;  they  retire  under  the  litter,  and 
remain  there  till  they  change,  wrhere  they  must  breathe 
a  bad  air,  and  in  many  cases  be  smothered  by  the  accu- 
mulation of  matter. 

"  I  may  as  well  mention  here  the  system  of  cutting  the 
branches.  Cut  your  trees  within  three  or  four  feet  of 
the  ground,  making  clean  work  as  you  go,  cutting  the 
branches  within  two  or  three  inches  of  the  body.  The 
trees  thus  trimmed  will  produce  a  head  to  be  taken  off 
at  the  feeding  time  ;  they  will  be  thus  kept  within  reach, 
and  always  handsomer  and  better  than  when  stripped 
of  their  leaves.  The  branches  when  cut  should  be  laid 
in  the  cellar,  when  if  wet,  they  will  soon  dry ;  after 
being  fed  from,  they  may  be  planted  in  furrows,  and  will 
many  of  them  grow." 

Though  I  have  never  seen  the  above  article  before 
to-day,  December  22d,  1866,  it  seems  to  me  curious 


220  THE    CALIFORNIA 

that  Mr.  Whitemarsli  proposed  in  1839  what  I  have  been 
doing  here  in  California  for  six  years  without  knowing 
of  the  existence  of-  Mr.  Whitemarsh's  book ;  but  I  feel 
really  happy  to  find  that  good  article  and  to  lay  it 
before  you,  as  it  corresponds  entirely  with  my  views  on 
that  subject;  it  is  also  an  approval  and  a  proof  that 
what  I  said  about  the  feeding  with  branches  is  true,  ac- 
cording to  that  authority. 

Mr.  Whitemarsh  values  very  highly  this  mode  of  feed- 
ing when  he  says :  "  When  the  mulberry  brandies 
cease  to  be  worth  six  cents  an  inch ;"  but  here  we  don't 
want  to  create  any  mulberry  fever,  and  my  principal 
object  in  publishing  the  Manual  is  to  prevent  it,  by  giving 
every  farmer  and  planter  the  means  of  propagating  his 
own  mulberry  trees ;  in  that  way,  within  a  short  time, 
we  will  have  millions  of  them,  and  they  will  be  the 
cheapest  of  all  the  trees  produced,  as  it  is  my  aim  that 
we  should  be  able  to  raise  the  best  silk  and  produce  it 
cheaper  than  in  any  other  silk  countries. 

But  I  must  go  on  with  the  treatment  of  silkworms  in 
California.  I  will  just  take  the  eggs,  go  through  the 
whole  process,  and  leave  them  when  they  are  eggs 
again. 

First,  Hatching.  The  eggs  of  the  silkworms  are  of  a 
pale  slate  or  dark  lilac  color,  and  of  the  size  of  a  pin's 
head ;  those  of  a  yellow  color  are  imperfect.  The  eggs 
are  generally  on  paper  or  on  cloth,  and  kept  in  a  cool, 
dry  place  in  the  cellar,  to  prevent  them  from  hatching ; 
but  to  hatch  them,  they  must  be  put  to  the  heat.  In 
Europe  they  have  to  use  artificial  heat  for  their  hatch- 


221 

ings,  but  here  in  California  we  have  no  need  of  it,  as 
when  I  want  to  hatch  mine,  I  simply  take  the  papers 
on  which  my  eggs  are,  from  the  cellar  and  carry  them 
to  my  garret,  and  there  the  heat  caused  by  the  sun 
through  the  roof  makes  them  hatch  promptly,  which 
they  generally  begin  to  do  on  the  third  day  and  con- 
tinue for  a  few  days,  permitting  them  generally  to 
hatch  for  four  days  ;  the  balance  not  hatched,  which  are 
few,  I  throw  away,  considering  that  these  late  ones  are 
not  very  good. 

It  is  very  important  that  those  that  hatch  the  first 
day  and  those  that  hatch  the  second  day,  etc.,  should 
be  kept  by  themselves,  and  not  mixed  together.  This 
is  very  easy  by  marking  with  your  pencil  the  papers  on 
which  you  put  your  young  worms,  with  "  No.  1 " — "  2," 
etc.  This  is  necessary,  because  when  they  are  moult- 
ing, being  of  the  same  age,  they  are  all  moulting  at 
the  same  time,  and  if  they  were  the  different  days  or 
ages  mixed  together,  some  would  be  moulting  when 
others  want  to  eat,  and  those  eating  would  be  very  in- 
jurious to  those  in  the  critical  function  of  casting  off  their 
skins  :  they  need  at  that  moment  to  remain  undisturbed. 

First  Age.  When  the  silkworms  are  hatched,  they 
are  of  a  black  color,  one-twelfth  of  an  inch  in  length ; 
those  of  a  red  color  may  be  thrown  away,  if  there  are 
any.  As  soon  as  they  are  hatched  they  need  to  be  fed ; 
put  on  them  then  young  and  very  tender  leaves ;  they 
crawl  on  them,  and  then  they  are  easily  removed  to 
the  papers  and  placed  on  the  shelves  by  taking  the 
leaves  on  which  they  are.  After,  you  feed  them  with 


222  THE   CALIFORNIA 

very  tender  leaves  for  that  first  age,  but  they  prefer 
young  twigs,  as  I  have  said  before,  and  with  twigs  they 
are  easier  to  remove  from  one  paper  to  the  other ;  give 
them  small  quantities  at  the  time,  but  often,  at  least  six 
times  or  more  during  the  twenty-four  hours. 

When  the  young  brood  are  piled  too  closely,  a  part 
can  be  removed  on  the  young  twigs  or  branches.  They 
eat  well  for  about  three  days,  after  which  they  grow 
torpid,  and  must  not  then  be  disturbed  till  awakened. 
You  need  not  remove  the  litter  during  this  stage,  but 
remove  them  afterwards  by  putting  fresh  twigs  two  or 
three  times,  so  as  to  cover  all  the  worms  or  nearly  so, 
after  which  you  throw  the  litter  away. 

After  each  and  every  successive  change,  their  appe- 
tite increases  daily  more  and  more,  but  gradually  dimin- 
ishes as  their  change  approaches. 

Second  Age.  The  silkworm  now  awakes  hungry,  but 
let  those  which  awake  too  soon  still  hunger  till  all  are 
awakened,  that  all  may  be  equal ;  they  have  now  be- 
come of  a  dark  ash  color.  Feed  them  for  two  or  three 
days  with  branches  containing  young  and  tender  leaves, 
and  afterwards  with  branches  having  young  leaves  and 
some  older,  but  when  they  will  grow  torpid  they  must 
not  be  disturbed.  The  litter  during  this  stage  is  to  be 
often  removed,  and  you  may  lure  the  silkworms  to  any 
corner  of  the  shelf  by  a  few  twigs,  when  you  choose, 
for  the  purpose  of  sweeping  the  litter,  or  you  may  re- 
move them  to  other  shelves  on  branches. 

Third  Age.  Then  you  begin  to  place  your  branches 
as  represented  in  the  engraving,  (see  frontispiece)  and 


223 

from  this  time  continue  feeding  the  silkworms  with  full- 
grown  leaves  ;  and  their  mouths,  with  which  they  saw 
their  food,  is  changed  in  color,  originally  white  and  soft, 
but  soon  becoming  hard  and  black,  continually  growing 
harder  with  every  successive  change. 

Fourth  Age.  When  they  wake  up  in  this  age,  the 
silkworms  are  of  a  whitish  flesh  color,  except  the  spot- 
ted species,  called  tigres ;  their  head  and  body  has  be- 
come enlarged,  their  appetite  becomes  voracious,  and 
they  can  now  devour  all  the  coarse  leaves. 

Fifth  Age.  Their  color  has  now  become  of  a  dark 
gray  with  a  reddish  hue  ;  they  continue,  however,  grow- 
ing whiter  for  about  seven  days,  when  they  generally 
become  of  a  yellow  color,  their  backs  becoming  shining 
arid  their  mouths  of  a  red  color. 

A  great  quantity  of  food  is  now  needed,  and  the 
branches  must  be  brought  by  wagon  loads  and  distrib- 
uted to  them.  It  is  curious  to  see  the  incredible  quan- 
tities of  full-grown  leaves  that  they  devour  at  present ; 
even  the  coarsest  leaves  are  equally  valuable,  and  night 
and  day  they  must  be  fully  fed.  Their  time  now  being 
short,  must  be  improved  continually  and  to  the  utmost, 
for  now  they  hunger  incessantly,  and  the  more  they  eat 
and  the  faster  they  feed  the  more  abundant  will  be  the 
produce  of  silk.  If  you  find  that  your  heaps  of 
branches  are  too  high,  like  coming  eight  or  ten  inches 
from  the  shelf  above,  you  take  the  whole  top  with  all 
the  worms  on ;  see  that  you  hold  it  up  carefully,  so  as  not 
to  hurt  the  worms,  during  which  time  another  person 
takes  off  all  the  branches  from  beneath,  and  sweeps 


224  THE   CALIFORNIA 


from  the  papers  the  ordures  of  the  worms ;  after  which 
you  replace  your  top  where  it  was ;  this  is  easily  done, 
and  it  would  take  but  a  short  time  to  cleanse  in  that 
way  the  whole  room,  if  it  was  necessary.  It  is  never 
needed  more  than  once  during  the  whole  feeding. 

When  the  warmth  of  the  atmosphere  will  admit,  as 
in  the  former  ages,  the  numerous  windows  in  the  roof 
and  on  the  sides  must  be  opened  to  preserve  a  pure  at- 
mosphere. They  delight,  in  all  the  latter  days,  in 
a  cool,  fresh,  and  pure  atmosphere ;  then  when  the 
weather  is  parching,  hot,  and  dry,  sprinkle  the  floor 
with  water  occasionally,  and  keep  shallow  vessels  filled 
with  water  to  rectify  the  air. 

During  every  age  and  until  the  silkworm  has  ceased 
taking  food,  it  never  inclines  to  wander — a  circumstance 
which  has  rendered  this  insect  wonderfully  easy  of  con- 
trol. 

In  the  other  chapters  I  have  already  expressed  my 
views  on  frequent  feedings,  and  also  the  advantage  of 
feeding  in  the  night,  though  I  have  not  done  this  yet  in 
California,  as  I  always  raised  them  in  small  quantities  ; 
but  I  know  that  it  is  admitted  everywhere,  and  that  we 
must  do  it  if  we  wish  a  complete  success,  and  to  obtain 
silk  of  superior  quality.  But  before  concluding  the 
subject  of  feedings,  I  wish  to  say  a  few  w.ords  more : 
feed  the  worms  frequently  and  as  regularly  as  possible, 
and  as  abundantly  as  circumstances  permit ;  let  them 
always  have  as  much  as  they  will  eat  with  a  good  appe- 
tite, always  observing  that  when  the  time  of  rnoul tings  ar- 
rives, they  will  cease  to  eat  and  retire  among  the  branches ; 


225 

they  must  then  be  left  quiet  till  they  revive,  which  is 
generally  in  about  twenty-four  hours,  and  when  well 
awakened,  feed  them  again ;  and  so  on  through  every 
age ;  but  for  the  last  age  make  your  arrangements  for 
large  supplies  of  branches,  as  more  will  be  required 
than  in  the  whole  previous  ages ;  and  then  for  a  week 
or  ten  days  you  must  be  active,  because  your  own  labor 
is  nearly  over  and  that  of  the  worms  is  about  to  com- 
mence ;  and  you  will  soon  see  them  looking  about  for  a 
place  to  retire  into,  as  they  do  not  like  much  to  be  seen 
making  their  cocoons  in  public.  You  will  then  provide 
for  them  when  you  see  them  raising  their  heads  from 
their  fresh  food  and  moving  about. 

Formation  of  the  Cocoons. — When  the  silkworms 
become  transparent  and  of  a  pearly  color,  when  they 
cease  eating  and  are  running  to  and  fro,  looking  up- 
wards or  trying  to  ascend,  when  the  skin  about  their 
necks  becomes  wrinkled  and  their  bodies  have  a  soft- 
ness to  the  touch  resembling  soft  dough,  and  their  backs 
become  unusually  shining,  when  the  green  circles  around 
the  body  contract  and  become  of  a  bright  gold  color, 
these  are  sure  indications  that  they  are  prepared  for 
the  last  work  of  forming  the  cocoons ;  then,  and  not 
before,  you  must  provide  them  with  something  to  attach 
and  place  their  cocoons  in ;  sometimes  it  is  made  with 
the  twigs  of  the  oak  with  the  leaves  on,  which  had  been 
before  provided  ;  the  leaf  of  the  oak  is  strong,  and  the 
cocoons  are  separated  from  it  without  injury ;  they 
should  be  cut  and  dried  some  three  weeks  previous, 
preserved  in  readiness  till  required.  They  are  placed 


226  THE   CALIFORNIA 

in  the  center  of  the  heap  of  branches  on  which  jour 
worms  are,  upright,  with  the  top  spread,  forming  har- 
bors twenty  inches  or  more  in  width,  with  circular  heads. 
Some  are  using  rye  or  wheat  straw,  after  cutting  the 
heads,  tied  in  small  bundles  of  the  size  of  your  arm, 
placing  them  also  upright  and  spreading  the  top  under 
the  shelf  above. 

With  our  mode  in  California  of  feeding  with  branches, 
if  you  do  not  give  them  enough  twigs  to  place  their  co- 
coons in,  they  make  them  in  the  branches  of  the  heap 
on  which  they  are. 

The  insect  generally  requires  from  three  to  five  days 
to  form  the  cocoon  completely.  During  the  first  day, 
the  insect  forms  a  loose  oval  structure  of  thin,  irregular, 
coarse  threads,  called  floss.  Within  this  structure,  dur- 
ing the  three  following  days,  it  forms  the  silken  ball ; 
not,  however,  in  concentric  circles,  but  by  irregular 
movements,  backwards  and  forwards  in  spots.  The 
silken  fiber  is  covered  with  a  gum,  which  contributes  to 
exclude  the  water. 

Sometimes,  even  after  its  ascent  among  the  branches 
or  straw,  the  silkworm  will  look  back,  and  descend  once 
more,  for  the  last  time,  to  take  some  more  food. 

Ventilation  is  very  important  during  the  period  while 
the  insects  are  performing  their  last  labor  ;  yet,  in  no 
case  is  a  due  and  comfortable  degree  of  warmth  more 
needed  than  while  the  insect  is  forming  its  cocoon,  as 
this  enables  them  to  draw  forth  and  to  surrender  the 
whole  amount  of  silk  which  they  had  laid  up  in  store. 

Gathering  of  the  Cocoons. — In  about  eight  days  after 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  227 

the  cocoons  are  finished,  they  have  to  be  gathered,  and 
the  floss  silk  taken  off  from  around  them,  and  saved,  if 
^clean ;  they  can  be  reeled  off  at  that  time  if  you  are 
prepared  to  do  it ;  but  if  you  are  not,  you  must  stifle 
the  chrysalis,  so  as  to  reel  them  at  any  time  after,  or  to 
sell  your  cocoons.  In  more  temperate  climates,  as  in 
some  parts  of  Europe,  ovens  are  used  for  destroying  the 
insect.  The  cocoons  are -placed  in  oblong  shallow  baskets, 
covered  with  a  paper,  and  over  it  a  cloth,  and  these  are 
placed  in  an  oven,  the  heat  of  which  should  be  very 
nearly  that  of  the  oven  after  the  bread  is  drawn ;  thus 
wrapped  up  and  exposed  during  half  an  hourx)r  an  hour, 
the  chrysalides  taken  from  the  centre  of  the  basket  will 
be  found  dead  ;  on  removal  from  the  basket,  they  are 
covered  closely  with  blankets  for  a  few  hours,  and  then 
dried  in  the  sun. 

They  can  also  be  stifled  by  steam  and  other  pro- 
cesses, but  all  of  them  require  much  work  and  expense 
for  artificial  heat ;  and  besides  that,  nearly  in  every  case 
it  injures  the  luster  of  the  silk,  particularly  that  of  the 
white  variety. 

Stifling  the  Chrysalide  in  California. — Here,  in  our 
blessed  silk  climate,  we  have  no  need  of  all  this,  and  we 
are  not  likely  to  injure  the  luster  of  our  silk,  as  I  found 
that  the  power  of  Our  solar  rays  is  sufficient  to  destroy 
the  chrysalide  in  the  cocoon.  This  is  the  best  and  sim- 
plest mode.  The  cocoons  need  only  to  be  exposed  fully 
to  the  scorching  rays  of  the  sun,  from  ten  o'clock  in  the 
morning  till  four  in  the  afternoon  ;  two  or  three  days  of 
such  exposure  are  sufficient.  But  to  make  the  work  surer 


228  THE    CALIFORNIA 

and  better,  I  would  recommend  to  have  for  that  purpose 
long  boxes  four  feet  wide,  sides  six  inches  high,  to  be 
covered  with  glass  frames  ;  this  will  greatly  increase  the 
heat,  and  will  have  the  effect  of  destroying  the  insect 
promptly  and  surely.  In  this  way,  your  cocoons  will 
also  be  protected  against  being  destroyed  by  mice  or 
rats,  or  otherwise,  as  your  boxes  must  be  made  close,  to 
afford  no  chance  for  these  pests'  to  get  in,  because  they 
are  immoderately  fond  of  chrysalides. 

Select  your  Cocoons  for  the  eggs. — For  seed,  the  very 
best  cocoons  should  be  selected,  that  is,  those  which  are 
of  the  largest  size  and  feel  firm,  and  are  of  a  bright 
color  ;  and  so  far  as  possible,  an  equal  number  of  males 
and  females ;  the  male  cocoons  are  slender,  depressed 
in  the  middle,  and  pointed  at  Jboth  ends ;  the  female 
cocoons  are  of  a  larger  size  and  of  a  rounder  form,  and 
resemble  in  shape  a  hen's  egg. 

If  we  keep  selecting  carefully  our  very  best  cocoons 
for  seed,  it  is  my  opinion,  and  also  that  of  other  com- 
petent silk  growers,  that  under  our  fine  climate,  so  very 
favorable  to  silk  culture,  within  a  few  years,  we  will 
obtain  a  California  variety ,  that  will  surpass  in  size  and 
quality  all  the  varieties  known  and  cultivated  now. 

After  having  stripped  the  floss,  they  may  be  strung 
together  by  threads,  being  careful  not  to  pierce  the 
cocoon,  and  hung  up  to  the  wainscot  in  festoons ;  or 
placed  in  a  single  layer  in  open  paper  boxes,  on  shelves 
or  tables,  in  a  darkened,  retired,  warm  and  airy  place ; 
and  from  ten  to  fifteen  days  from  the  time  they  com- 
plete spinning,  according  to  the  warmth  of  the  season, 


SILK    GROWER'S   MANUAL.  229 

the  moth  emerges  from  the  cocoon,  in  the  shape  of  a 
large  butterfly,  of  a  grayish  white  color,  with  four 
wings,  two  eyes,  and  two  feathery  plumes  or  horns. 
The  male  usually  appears  first,  and  is  known  by  his 
smaller  size,  and  a  continual  flutter  of  his  wings.  The 
female  is  of  a  larger  size,  of  a  whiter  color,  and  seldom 
moves.  These  are  to  be  paired,  and  then  removed  by 
their  wings  to  sheets  of  paper  spread  on  tables  or 
boards,  where  they  are  to  be  left  in  darkness,  as  when 
complete,  the  silkworm  is  a  night  insect. 

They  generally  come  out  of  the  cocoons  in  the  morn- 
ing, between  seven  and  nine  o'clock,  when  you  have  to 
be  there,  and  see  that  they  are  all  paired ;  otherwise, 
your  eggs  would  not  be  good  for  anything.  Those  that 
are  paired,  you  take  by  the  wings,  being  careful  not  to 
hurt  or  separate  them ;  you  put  them  on  the  papers, 
and  those  that  are  not  paired,  you  take  them,  males 
and  females,  and  put  them  together  on  a  separate  sheet 
of  paper,  and  they  will  soon  get  paired  there  ;  and  when 
they  are,  you  take  them  and  put  them  with  the  others. 

Sometimes,  among  the  paired  ones,  a  male  or  more 
gets  loose ;  and  as  soon  as  you  see  it,  you  must  take 
them  off,  because  they  would  disturb  the  others,  and 
cause  many  of  them  to  get  loose  also  ;  and  it  is  import- 
ant that  they  should  not  be  disturbed.  You  put  these 
loose  ones,  male  and  female,  back  with  the  unpaired 
ones,  so  that  they  may  all  get  paired  again. 

After  they  are  all  paired,  you  leave  them  in  their 
dark  place,  till  about  four  or  five  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, when  you  have  to  separate  them.  For  that,  take 
11 


230  THE   CALIFORNIA 

the  wings  of  the  male  with  one  hand,  and  the  wings  of 
the  female  with  the  other ;  draw  them  apart  gently,  so 
as  not  to  hurt  them ;  place  the  males  in  a  box,  and  the 
females  on  the  paper  or  cloth,  on  which  you  wish  to 
have  them  lay  their  eggs.  • 

Most  of  the  females  begin,  to  lay  as  soon  as  separ- 
ated from  the  males ;  but  be  careful  to  leave  no  male 
among  the  females,  that  are  placed  to  lay  their  eggs, 
and  if  by  mistake  you  have  thrown  a  female  among  the 
males,  carefully  place  it  with  the  others. 

After  that  operation  is  done,  and  the  females  com- 
mence laying,  you  have  nothing  more  to  do  with  them ; 
cover  the  box  which  contains  the  males,  and  keep  it  so 
until  the  next  morning  :  it  is  what  is  called  the  reserve. 
The  next  morning,  proceed  the  same  way  as  I  have 
said  above ;  but  it  happens  sometimes  that  you  have 
more  females  than  males,  in  which  case,  after  you  have 
all  your  males  of  the  morning  employed,  you  take  the 
quantity  you  need  from  your  reserve,  as  you  must  re- 
member that  every  female  must  be  provided  for  produc- 
ing good  eggs. 

After  you  have  been  using  the  males  you  want  from 
your  reserve,  throw  all  the  balance  out,  and  the  birds 
will  soon  eat  them.  Do  the  same  thing  every  day, 
till  all  the  moths  have  emerged  from  the  cocoons. 

One  hundred  pairs  of  cocoons,  which  weigh  a  pound, 
will  produce,  an  ounce  of  eggs  ;  and  an  ounce  of  eggs 
is  considered  to  produce  forty  thousand  silkworms. 

After  your  females  have  done  laying  their  eggs,  they 
will  all  die,  and  then  you  can  roll  together  carefully 


231 

the  papers  on  which  your  eggs  are,  and  place  them  in 
tin  boxes.  Two  sides  or  more  of  these  tin  boxes  should 
be  of  perforated  tin.  These  boxes,  to  be  preserved, 
should  be  placed  in  a  cool  room,  or  dry  cellar,  where 
they  will  not  be  liable  to  freeze  :  but  freezing,  though  it 
may  injure  by  retarding  the  period  of  their  hatching, 
yet  does  not  destroy  them. 

Now,  we  have  been  through  the  whole  process,  and 
you  have  your  eggs  again,  ready  for  next  year,  which 
you  will  take  care  to  hatch  when  your  mulberry  trees 
are  growing  finely,  so  you  may  be  sure  of  having 
plenty  of  good  food  for  them  ;  and  this  is,  in  California, 
usually  about  the  tenth  or  twentieth  day  of  June. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

TALK  WITH  THE  FARMERS  AND  PLANTERS. 

Now,  farmers  and  planters  generally,  in  giving  to 
you  all  my  experience,  and  all  I  know  about  the  raising 
of  the  mulberry  trees  and  silk,  I  have  proved  that  I 
am  your  friend — then  I  can  have  a  talk  with  you  on 
the  subject ;  I  will  try  to  make  it  interesting  and 
useful  to  you,  as  under  that  head  I  may  say  whatever 
comes  to  my  memory  about  mulberry  trees  and  silk 
raising  in  our  silk  State,  etc.  To  farmers  and  planters  we 
must  look  for  the  production  of  that  rich  article,  and  as 


232  THE    CALIFORNIA 

they  are  only  those  who  enrich  a  country,  then  it  is 
to  the  farmers  and  planters  throughout  our  silk  climate 
that  I  particularly  address  myself,  and  urge  them  to  give 
their  immediate  and  earnest  attention  to  this  so  important 
a  subject ;  to  look  into  the  matter  thoroughly,  and  not 
only  look,  but  act.  They  must  not  be  alarmed  with 
the  frequent  croakings  about  the  high  price  of  labor  in 
this  country,  and  the  impossibility  of  raising  the  silk 
in  competition  with  other  countries.  It  is  too  late  now 
for  such  arguments ;  they  vanish  completely  before  the 
face  of  facts,  which  are  better  than  all  the  theories. 
The  silk  culture  has  now  gained  too  much  headway  in 
California  to  be  checked  in  its  speed  by  the  fears  and 
doubts  of  the  timid  and  shortsighted — as  any  doubts 
of  its  full  and  complete  success  cannot  be  entertained 
any  more  by  any  reasoning  person.  Then  I  urge  you  all 
to  plant  mulberries,  in  the  full  assurance  that  they  will 
be  wanted ;  this  will  be  a  rich  legacy  to  your  children, 
for  you  may  be  assured  that  silk  must  and  will  be 
raised  all  over  California,  from  one  corner  to  the  other, 
and  also  in  several  other  of  our  States,  that  possess  a 
similar  climate  to  our  own,  and  to  which  then  our 
simplified  culture  can  be  applied  : 

1st.  The  difference  in  the  price  of  labor  here  and 
in  France  does  not  hardly  exist  any  more,  as  the 
price  of  labor  there  is  double  now  of  what  it  was  thirty 
years  ago  ;  but  supposing  that  it  is  now  as  low  as  then, 
we  could  certainly  obtain  and  raise  the  silk  for  half  of 
the  cost  there,  for  the  different  reasons  that  I  have 
already  stated  in  the  first  chapter,  in  my  letter. 


233 

2d.  There  is  no  other  culture  so  rich  as  the  culture 
of  silk,  if  the  farmers  and  planters  only  give  their  atten- 
tion to  it ;  and  with  that  culture  only,  we  would  soon 
be  able  to  pay  our  national  debt  and  our  own.  Nothing 
could  be  so  profitable  to  the  United  States,  and  our 
Congress  ought  to  take  the  matter  into  serious  consid- 
eration. We  have  in  a  great  measure  to  depend  on  our 
Congressmen  to  see  that  that  rich  culture  is  established 
generally.  They  only  have  simply  to  maintain  a  high 
tariff  on  the  article  for  a  few  years,  and  the  culti- 
vation and  the  manufacture  of  silk  will  be  established 
everywhere  throughout  the  country.  We  trust  that 
they  will  look  to  the  general  good  of  the  country,  and 
not  to  the  benefit  of  only  a  few. 

3d.  The  culture  of  silk  is  in  itself  simple  ;  and  the 
farmers,  their  wives  and  their  children,  the  old  and 
the  young — all  will  find  pleasure  and  profit  in  that 
culture.  It  is  principally  for  them  that  I  write  this 
little  book,  in  giving  them  facts  only,  and  the  simple 
culture  of  our  silk  producing  country. 

4th.  The  farmers  who  are  blessed  with  a  large 
family  of  children,  are  those  that  are  naturally  better 
situated  to  cultivate  and  raise  the  silk  more  profitably 
than  others,  as  they  are  not  obliged  to  hire  any  extra 
help  at  feeding  time. 

5th.  The  wife,  or  the  eldest  daughter,  of  the  farmer 
can  study  this  Manual,  and  then  they  will  be  able  to 
superintend  the  work  of  feeding,  etc.,  in  showing  and 
telling  the  younger  ones  what  they  have  to  do. 

6th.  I  wish  that  each  farmer  would  take  the  trouble 


234  THE   CALIFORNIA 

of  counting  his  children,  and  plant  one  acre  of  mulberry 
trees  for  each  one  of  them,  in  the  best  mulberry  land  of 
the  farm  ;  in  that  way  they  will  not  cost  them  anything, 
and  I  think  that,  on  the  contrary,  they  will  be  a  benefit 
to  them ;  they  will  anyhow  be  able  to  support  them- 
selves, and  be  independent  from  the  product  of  their 
acre.  But  some  have  told  me  that  the  children  have 
to  go  to  school.  I  admit  that,  and  particularly  recom- 
mend you  to  send  them  to  school.  But  as  the  whole 
process  of  feeding  and  cleaning  the  cocoons,  etc.,  etc., 
does  not  exceed  two  months,  then  they  have  ten  months 
in  the  year  to  go  to  school — and  I  suppose  this  is  about 
sufficient  for  them ;  besides  that,  the  raising  of  silk  is 
also  a  useful  school  to  go  to. 

7th.  The  feeding  and  taking  care  of  the  worms  and 
cocoons,  the  reeling  of  silk — all  this  work  in  silk 
countries  is  done  by  the  ladies,  of  all  ages :  this  will 
also  be  the  case  in  California.  Some  say  that  our 
California  ladies  do  not  like  to  work.  I  do  not  believe 
it ;  if  some  of  them  do  not  work  as  they  ought  to  do, 
the  reason  is  that  they  have  no  profitable  work  to  do 
that  suits  their  delicate  natures  ;  but  the  moment  they 
will  have  that  work,  I  guarantee  you  that  they  will 
nearly  all  go  into  it,  as  in  this  kind  of  work  a  woman 
can  do  it  better  than  a  man  ;  and  they  will  then  con- 
tribute to  enrich  the  country.  This  will  certainly  be  a 
great  improvement  and  benefit  to  our  young  ladies, 
who  will  certainly  be  proud  to  wear  fine  dresses  from 
silk  raised  by  their  own  hands. 

8th.  In  France,  where  silk  is  a  national  culture,  it  is 


SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL.  235 

a  part  of  the  education  of  young  ladies.  In  their  schools, 
convents,  or  academies,  they  are  to  receive  a  small  lot 
of  silkworms'  eggs,  and  they  have  to  hatch  them  and 
raise  the  worms.  Those  that  know  all  about  it  show 
the  others.  Thus  they  are  educated  and  familiarized 
with  the  treatment  and  the  culture  of  silkworms,  which 
may  prove  afterwards  very  useful  to  them. 

9th.  Aged  persons,  no  more  fit  for  hard  labor,  men 
and  women,  will  find  in  the  culture  of  silk  an  agreeable 
and  profitable  employment. 

10th.  I  have  many,  questions  asked  me  on  the  sub- 
ject, by  letters.  Some  ask  how  many  trees  are  required 
to  the  acre.  To  those  I  would  say,  that  in  the  way  they 
have  to  be  planted,  as  I  have  indicated  for  the  plantation, 
an  acre  will  take  from  six  to  eight  hundred,  according  to 
the  distance  you  plant  them — to  suit  your  soil. 

llth.  Others  ask  how  long  they  will  have  to  wait 
before  the  trees  will  give  leaves  in  sufficient  quantity  to 
begin  to  feed  the  worms.  We  are  in  a  country  so 
extraordinary  for  being  favorable  to  the  growth  of  the 
mulberry  trees,  that  we  have  not  to  wait,  we  can  feed 
in  the  summer  from  trees,  and  even  from  cuttings 
planted  in  winter.  This  will  hardly  be  believed  in 
other  silk  countries ;  but  is  a  fact  here.  If  your 
trees  or  cuttings  are  planted  in  good  mulberry  soil,  with 
some  little  care,  of  course,  a  small  quantity  of  worms 
can  be  fed  the  first  year. 

12th.  Others  ask  how  many  worms  can  le  fed  from 
one  acre.  This  is  very  hard  to  tell,  as  it  depends  on  a 
great  many  circumstances :  First,  on  the  quality  of  the 


236  THE   CALIFORNIA 

soil.  Second,  on  the  amount  of  care  given  to  the  trees. 
Third,  on  the  age  of  the  trees,  etc.  So  it  is  very  diffi- 
cult to  make  an  exact  estimate  ;  we  have  to  come  to  a 
general  one,  and  make  it  as  near  as  possible. 

18th.  That  an  acre  will  produce  from  forty  to  four 
hundred  pounds  of  silk,  at  a  cost  of  not  exceeding  two 
dollars  per  pound,  ready  for  market.  The  value  of  the 
raw  silk  is  from  six  to  eight  dollars  per  pound,  accord- 
ing to  quality.  The  quantity  must  be  determined  by 
the  circumstances  above  mentioned. 

14th.  But  for  those  that  are  not  prepared  to  reel 
their  own  silk,  they  can  sell  their  cocoons  as  they  are, 
to  the  manufacturer,  or  sell  them  for  exportation, [if  they 
choose.  As  there  is,  and  will  be  a  great  demand  for 
them,  one  of  our  silk  merchants,  in  our  city  of  San  Jose, 
has  already  asked  me  how  many  thousand  pounds  of 
cocoons  I  had  to  sell,  as,  he  said,  he  would  find  me  a 
purchaser,  who  would  buy  them  immediately.  In  sell- 
ing cocoons,  in  proportion  to  the  work  done,  they  will 
have  pretty  much  the  same  profits. 

15th.  Each  cultivator  may  make  a  calculation  to 
suit  his  own  soil  and  locality,  by  taking  one  hundred 
pounds  of  leaves  for  one  pound  of  reeled  silk.  Forty 
thousand  worms,  well  fed,  will  give  fifteen  pounds  of 
silk  ;  an  acre  of  trees,  or  stools,  in  good  situations,  and 
good  soil,  will  certakily  yield,  here,  at  four  years  of 
age,  from  fifty  to  sixty  thousand  pounds  of  leaves,  and 
probably  more,  which,  at  one  hundred  pounds  per  one 
pound  of  silk,  will  be  five  hundred  pounds  ;  but  we  must 
leave  a  few  thousand  pounds  for  wastage,  and  then 


237 

the  quantity  will  be  still  large  enough.  The  leaves 
must  be  of  the  best  quality  to  give  a  pound  of  silk  to 
one  hundred  pounds  of  leaves  ;  it  would  require  much 
more  of  watery  leaves,  or  leaves  grown  in  the  shade. 

16th.  Supposing,  as  an  average,  fifty-five  thousand 
pounds  of  leaves  to  the  acre,  on  stools  four  years  old, 
this  would,  consequently,  at  one  hundred  pounds  for 
each  pound  of  silk,  give  five  hundred  and  fifty  pounds 
of  silk,  which,  at  seven  dollars  per  pound,  would  be  only 
$3,850  per  acre.  Now,  the  work  to  be  done  that  year, 
to  have  the  silk  ready  for  market,  according  to  our 
simplified  culture,  which  is  the  only  one  to  follow  under 
our  fine  and  dry  climate — I  have  tried  to  calculate  in 
different  ways,  and  I  find  it  always  $840  and  $850 — 
this  would  leave,  then,  a  net  profit  of  three  thousand 
dollars  per  acre ;  but  supposing  two  hundred  dollars 
more  were  needed,  for  things  that  I  may  have  forgotten, 
(but  I  think  not)  it  would  still  be  two  thousand  and 
eight  hundred  dollars  net  profit  per  acre.  This  is 
about  reasonable,  and  I  would  feel  satisfied  to  have  one 
hundred  acres  paying  me  in  that  proportion. 

17th.  The  business  is  rather  new  in  this  country 
but  I  would  recommend  that  all  would  try  it.  This 
can  be  done  with  a  small  expense,  as  we  ought  all  to 
help  each  other  to  go  into  that  enterprise,  as  it  is  the 
surest,  the  best,  and  the  only  one  where  competition 
need  not  be  feared.  Then  I  hope  that  a  liberal  spirit 
will  pervade  all  classes  throughout  our  silk  State. 

18th.  Now,  another  thing :    it  is  well    known  that 
poorhouses  and  orphan   asylums   are  public  burdens 
ir 


288  THE   CALIFORNIA 

upon  our  towns  and  cities,  which  have  to  support  them. 
These  different  places  could  be  relieved  from  these 
burdens  by  planting  with  mulberry,  trees  all  the  farms 
that  are  connected  "with  many  of  these  establishments. 
The  gathering  of  the  branches,  the  feeding  of  the  worms, 
the  cleaning  of  the  cocoons,  etc.,  would  be  an  agreeable 
pastime  for  the  children  and  aged  persons ;  and  this 
will  have  the  advantage  of  learning  the  young  a  useful 
business  for  the  future ;  and  also,  in  doing  so,  it  will 
afford  the  institutions  an  opportunity  of  making  them  com- 
fortable, and  have  them  well  educated,  in  providing  them 
with  good  teachers.  They  will  be  enabled  also  to  give 
comfort  to  the  poor  and  aged  persons  that  have  been 
driven  there  through  adverse  fortune,  as  a  last  resort, 
and  have  placed  themselves  under  the  public  care,  but 
are  still  possessed  of  the  finer  feelings  of  our  nature. 

19th.  If  any  of  the  above-named  benevolent  estab- 
lishments are  still  inside  of  the  cities,  and  consequently 
not  connected  with  any  land  to  cultivate  and  work  upon, 
it  would  be  necessary  that  such  establishments,  for  the 
benefit  of  all,  should  be  removed  to  the  country  ;  and  I 
would  suggest,  in  that  case,  that  good  mulberry  land 
should  be  selected  in  a  healthy  locality,  in  view  of  the 
good  health  and  comfort  of  the  inmates  ;  such  a  locality 
will  be  ten  times  better  for  them,  as  they  will  have  more 
of  the  pure  air  than  they  have  in  the  cities,  and  the 
cities,  at  the  same  time,  will  be  benefited  thereby. 
These  remarks  I  leave  for  consideration. 

20th.  In  these  benevolent  institutions,  besides  the 
raising  of  silk,  that  would  keep  them  busy  for  about  two 


239 

months  only  in  the  year,  it  would  be  easy  for  the  young 
folks  to  learn  the  reeling  of  the  silk,  particularly  the  young 
ladies,  who  are  generally  more  capable  for  that  work 
than  the  boys.  Then,  taking  cocoons  in  from  outside, 
wrould  keep  them  busy  a  great  portion  of  the  year,  by 
having  them  work  only  one  part  of  the  day,  and  the 
other  part  for  their  education. 

21st.  If  anything  is  done  in  these  benevolent  institu- 
tions, as  I  have  said  above,  and  managed  right,  I  can 
say  that  thus  the  poor  will  be  enabled  to  support  them- 
selves, and  enjoy  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  they 
are  not  entirely  objects  of  charity,  but  earning  their  own 
living,  under  the  direction  of  those  that  are  more  capa- 
ble of  guiding  the  helm  than  themselves.  Friends  of 
humanity,  do  try  the  experiment,  and  I  truly  and  sin- 
cerely believe  in  its  good  results. 

22nd.  Besides  the  great  profits  that  arise  naturally 
from  the  raising  of  silk,  those  that  will  start  in  that  busi- 
ness soon  will  receive  the  bounty  from  the  State,  which 
is  three  hundred  dollars  for  each  one  hundred  thousand 
of  cocoons,  and  also  a  bounty  on  their  plantations  ;  but 
this  will  be  only  for  three  years  more.  Some  may  say, 
if  the  silk  business  is  so  profitable,  why  is  it  that  the 
State  gives  bounties  ?  The  answer  is  simply  this :  we 
have  to  look  to  the  great  body  of  farmers  to  engage  in 
this  business,  and  the  farmers  generally  in  all  countries 
are  slow  to  adopt  improvements.  But  I  think  that  our 
farmers  in  California  will  differ  from  the  general  rule, 
as  I  show  them  how  to  do  it,  and  have  fully  demonstrated 
the  superiority  of  our  climate  over  that  of  other  prosper- 


240  THE   CALIFORNIA 

cms  silk  countries ;  and  that  particularly,  also,  our 
soil  is  so  superior  for  the  growth  of  the  mulberry  trees, 
that  they  have  not  to  wait  for  the  results,  and  are  as- 
sured of  regular  and  abundant  crops,  they  will  find  that 
it  is  to  their  interests  to  go  at  it  immediately. 

23rd.  My  object  in  publishing  this  Manual  is,  to  be 
useful  to  all  of  you,  in  indicating  how  to  go  into  the  busi- 
ness, with  or  without  capital,  or  hardly  any  ;  as  the  one 
who  has  no  capital  can  put  his  work,  (which  I  know  is 
equal  to  capital)  he  then  can  buy  the  seeds,  sow,  and 
take  care  of  them,  the  following  year  he  will  have  young 
trees  to  plant ;  while  those  that  have  capital  will  not 
have  to  wait,  as  they  can  buy  the  trees,  and  they  will 
have  a  crop  immediately.  Those  that  have  a  small  cap- 
ital can  buy  the  cuttings,  and  will  then  have  a  small 
crop  the  first  year,  as  the  cuttings  are  more  certain  than 
the  seeds,  and  also  grow  more  rapidly ;  and,  by  having 
shown  the  different  modes  of  propagating  the  mulberry, 
I  expect  by  that  to  prevent  its  selling  at  high  price,  thus 
allowing  every  one  to  go  into  the  business,  according  to 
their  means.  I  wish  also  to  prevent  any  mulberry  fever, 
that  benefits  only  few  ;  I  wish  to  see  the  culture  of  silk, 
all  over  our  silk  State — that  will  benefit  all. 

24th.  The  culture  of  silk  is  so  important  for  a  nation, 
that  in  Germany  they  came  to  be  a  silk  country  by  com- 
pulsion ;  laws  have  been  enacted,  compelling  every 
owner  of  land  to  plant  mulberry  trees  and  raise  silk- 
worms :  the  result  is  known,  they  have  become  silk-pro- 
ducing countries.  But  here  in  California,  I  wish  to  com- 
pel our  farmers  in  quite  another  way,  and  that  is  by 


241 

persuasion,  in  fully  demonstrating  to  them  that  we  are 
in  the  best  silk  country,  so  that  before  going  into  it,  they 
may  be  fully  convinced  that  they  are  going  into  the  best 
and  most  profitable  business  for  them  and  the  country  at 
large. 

25th.  We  are  sending  out  about  seven  millions  of  dol- 
lars annually  to  import  silk  for  our  ladies  ;  and  it  is  im- 
mense, the  quantity  of  millions  sent  out  for  that  article, 
if  we  take  all  the  United  States  together.  Every  one 
of  you  understand  the  importance  of  retaining  such  a 
large  amount  in  the  country.  But  not  only  must  we  do 
all  we  can  to  raise  enough  for  our  own  consumption,  but 
also  for  exportation. 

26th.  Why  I  address  the  farmers,  and  tell  them  the 
importance  of  the  silk  culture  for  them,  is  because  they 
arc  the  men  qualified  for  it ;  as,  besides  what  I  have 
said,  there  is  another  important  point  for  them,  and  that 
is,  that  it  does  not  interfere  with  their  other  crops ;  it 
just  comes  at  the  moment  they  have  least  to  do,  and 
then,  instead  of  interfering  with  the  other  crops,  I  find 
that  they  help  each  other,  as  the  building  needed  for 
the  worms,  is  also  of  great  importance  for  the  other  pro- 
ducts of  the  farm. 

27th.  The  reeling  of  the  silk  will  also,  in  future,  be 
done  by  the  farmers'  wives  and  daughters.  But,  being  in 
a  hurry,  as  it  is  late  in  the  season,  I  will  prepare  that 
article,  and  will  have  it  in  my  second  edition,  with  many 
other  additions. 

28th.  Count  Hazzi  states  that  seven  to  ten  pounds  of 
cocoons  will  make  a  pound  of  raw  silk.  In  some  silk 


242  THE   CALIFORNIA 

countries,  sometimes  twelve  pounds  are  necessary,  while 
in  California,  when  the  culture  shall  be  well  understood, 
I  think  that  no  more  than  seven  or  eight  pounds  will  be 
required. 

29th.  One  pound  of  silk,  when  well  reeled,  is  capable 
of  being  converted  into  sixteen  yards  of  the  ordinary 
quality  of  Grros  de  Naples,  or  into  fourteen  yards  of  the 
first  quality,  and  worth  twice  its  weight  in  silver. 

30th.  The  reeling  of  silk  in  France  and  Italy  is  per- 
formed almost  exclusively  by  females.  In  these  coun- 
tries there  are  innumerable  domestic  filatures,  where  the 
cocoons,  raised  by  one  or  more  families,  are  reeled  by 
the  wives  and  the  daughters  of  the  farmers.  These  em- 
ploy from  one  to  five  or  six  reels,  and  the  art  of  reeling 
is  preserved  in  families  from  generation  to  generation. 
There  are  also,  in  these  countries,  large  establishments, 
or  filatures,  which  employ  from  fifty  to  five  hundred  reels. 
These  establishments  have  a  superintendent  who  is  thor- 
oughly and  practically  a  perfect  master  in  the  business 
in  every  department ;  women  there  work  at  the  reeling 
all  their  days  as  an  exclusive  occupation.  At  these  large 
establishments  the  most  perfect  silk  is  reeled,  which 
commands  the  highest  price. 

31st.  I  wish  to  give  you  here  a  few  facts  that  will 
certainly  be  more  than  sufficient  to  prove  to  you  how 
easy  the  silk  can  be  raised  in  California ;  as,  besides  my 
cocoons,  we  had  on  exhibition  at  our  agricultural  fairs, 
specimens  of  good  cocoons  raised  by  the  following  per- 
sons :  Mr.  J.  N.  Hoag,  Secretary  of  our  State  Agricul- 
tural Society  ;  Capt.  Haynie,  of  Sacramento  ;  Mr.  Tif- 


243 

foinet,  of  Columbia,  Tuolumne  County ;  Miss  Hattie 
Isaacs,  of  Sacramento  ;  Mrs.  Sauffrignon,  of  San  Jose*  ; 
Miss  Mary  Johnson,  of  Sacramento  ;  Mrs.  George  A. 
Jones,  Brannan  Ranch,  on  the  Feather  River ;  Hon. 
Teegarden,  of  Marysville  ;  Mrs.  Catharine  Corbusier,  of 
Sacramento ;  Mrs.  Stephen  Davis,  of  Angel's  Camp  ; 
Mr.  John  Smith,  of  Sacramento ;  Mr.  Oliva,  of  Horni- 
tos,  Mariposa  County  ;  and  among  others  that  have  been 
successful  in  raising  the  silk,  and  have  not  exhibited,  are 
Mr.  Charles  F.  Reed,  President  of  our  State  Agricul- 
tural Society,  at  his  residence  in  Yolo  County ;  Mr. 
Wilson  Flint,  on  the  Sacramento  River,  near  the  city ; 
Mr.  A.  Packard,  Santa  Barbara ;  Mr.  G.  Gluesing, 
San  Joaquin  Valley ;  Mr.  E.  Goux,  Santa  Barbara, 
and  many  others  that  I  have  neglected  to  record  their 
names.  To  all  these  persons  I  sent  silkworms'  eggs,  or 
gave,  to  some,  young  worms,  and  all  these  persons  suc- 
ceed in  having  the  worms  to  perfection.  This  tells  vol- 
umes about  our  fine  climate,  and  shows  how  easy  we  can 
raise  silk  in  California,  as  nearly  all  of  them  never  saw 
a  silkworm  before.  Mr.  J.  Q.  A.  Warren  exhibited 
very  fine  and  good  cocoons  raised  by  him,  at  Honolulu, 
(Sandwich  Islands)  from  eggs  that  I  sent  him  there. 

32nd.  It  was  last  year,  1865,  that  I  made  the  first 
large  exhibition  that  began  to  be  appreciated.  If  we 
consider  a  moment  the  progress  made  in  such  a  short 
time,  we  can  hardly  believe  it ;  as,  besides  the  plantations 
of  mulberry  trees  made,  we  have  our  pioneer  silk  man- 
ufactory. Mr.  Joseph  Newmann  has  exhibited  at  our 
fairs  the  first  California  manufactured  silk,  made  by 


244  THE   CALIFORNIA 

himself  and  his  brother,  as  both  are  practical  silk  weav- 
ers ;  that  silk  has  been  generally  admired,  and  consid- 
ered by  all  of  the  best  quality.  He  is  now  making  a 
fine  show  of  a  large  quantity  of  that  silk  in  Montgomery 
street,  San  Francisco.  There  is  at  that  exhibition  sam- 
ples of  cocoons,  as  mentioned  above,  a  lot  of  weavers' 
tools,  a  miniature  silk  winder,  to  show  the  process  of 
reeling  ;  there  is  raw  silk,  floss  silk,  and  silk  in  skein  as 
taken  from  the  cocoons,  etc.  This  exhibition  attracts 
the  crowd  constantly,  as  every  one  foresees  in  that  the 
foundation  of  a  great  enterprise  which  is  bound  to  save 
millions  to  our  State. 

33rd.  As  at  San  Josd  the  first  silk  of  the  State  has 
been  raised,  it  was  due  to  the  place  to  have  the  pio- 
neer silk  manufactory,  and  land  has  been  given  for 
the  erection  of  it  near  the  city.  Besides  that,  it  is  the 
natural  place  for  such  a  manufactory  for  many  reasons : 
the  principal  is,  that  San  Jose*  is  the  healthiest  place  in 
California,  and  probably  in  the  world,  and  is  near  San 
Francisco  by  railroad,  and  also  that  our  water  is  so  fine 
and  soft,  that  it  has  been  tried  and  found  of  first  quality 
for  the  dyeing ;  this  is  very  important,  as  one  of  the 
reasons  that  makes  the  silk  of  Lyons  (France)  renowned 
all  over  the  world,  is  its  water  ;  and  thus,  we  may  ex- 
pect, that  San  Josd  will  eventually  be  the  Lyons  of  Cal- 
ifornia. They  have  a  large  quantity  of  machinery 
already  on  the  place,  and  some  more  on  the  way  from 
the  States,  everything  complete,  from  taking  the  silk 
from  the  cocoon  up  to  manufacturing  it  in  every  style. 

34th.  I  am  receiving  three  different  silk  papers  from 


245 

Europe,  that  give  me  information  about  everything  per- 
taining to  silk — transactions  in  silk  and  prices — all  over 
the  different  silk  countries  ;  and  as  we  are  becoming  a 
silk  country  also,  I  will  translate,  from  time  to  time,  for 
the  benefit  of  our  California  silk  growers,  the  articles 
that  I  may  find  of  some  interest  for  them,  and  publish 
them  in  our  leading  papers. 

35th.  America,  by  the  skill  and  ingenuity  of  her  peo- 
ple, has  been  enabled  to  compete  with  India  and  China, 
and  even  with  the  world,  in  the  culture  and  manufacture 
of  cotton ;  is  there  an  American  who  can  doubt  now 
that  we  shall  do  the  same  ere  long  with  the  silk  ? 

36th.  In  all  other  works  on  silk  raising,  they  have 
chapters  on  the  diseases  of  the  worms.  We  have  no 
need  in  our  California  Silk  Manual  of  such  chapter,  be- 
cause, as  long  as  we  shall  be  able  to  give  our  worms  fresh 
food  from  mulberry  trees  that  are  growing  under  the 
genial  rays  of  our  sun,  no  disease  can  be  expected,  as 
the  disease  is  in  the  food.  It  is  my  positive  opinion, 
that  these  watery  leaves,  taken  from  trees,  growing  most 
the  time  in  the  shade,  in  a  wet,  damp  atmosphere, 
are  what  create  the  disease  ;  I  say,  from  trees  growing 
in  the  shade,  because,  as  long  as  the  sun's  rays  do  not 
strike  on  them,  they  are  in  the  shade,  no  matter  if  it  is 
caused  by  the  clouds  or  anything  else. 

37th.  As  I  have  many  visitors  coming  for  information 
about  silk,  and  other  things  to  attend,  I  have  but  little 
time  left  to  me  :  thus  I  have  been  obliged  to  write  this 
Manual  in  a  hurry,  and  may  have  omitted  some  points  ; 
but  of  anything  that  shall  come  to  my  knowledge  of 


246  THE  SILK  GROWER'S  MANUAL. 

any  interest  I  will  keep  a  memorandum,  so  as  to  make 
a  more  complete  work  of  my  second  edition.  However, 
I  hope  that  I  have  said  enough  in  this,  my  first  essay, 
to  put  you  on  the  track,  and  enable  you  to  carry  on  the 
business  profitably  all  over  our  silk  State.  But  remem- 
ber, that  I  am  at  your  service,  always  ready  to  tell  you 
all  I  know,  to  enable  you  to  go  into  this  business  imme- 
diately, because  the  sooner  you  will  do  it  the  better. 

L.  P. 
SAN  JOSE,  December,  1866. 


RETURN  TO  the  circulation  desk  of  any 
University  of  California  Library 

or  to  the 

NORTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 
Bldg.  400,  Richmond  Field  Station 
University  of  California 
Richmond,  CA  94804-4698 

ALL  BOOKS  MAY  BE  RECALLED  AFTER  7  DAYS 

•  2-month  loans  may  be  renewed  by  calling 
(510)642-6753 

•  1-year  loans  may  be  recharged  by  bringing 
books  to  NRLF 

•  Renewals  and  recharges  may  be  made  4 
days  prior  to  due  date. 

DUE  AS  STAMPED  BELOW 

JUN    51997 

— nrruriNCD 

— MAY  8  8  1997 


12,000(11/95) 


